Little Spider: Guardiola Hopes I Can Visit City Again; Messi’s Form Suggests He Could Play in the Next World Cup

On the morning of September 30th, La Liga will feature the highly anticipated Madrid Derby. Recently, Atletico Madrid striker “Little Spider” Alvarez gave an exclusive interview to ESPN. During the interview, Alvarez discussed his transfer from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid, talked about the Champions League and the Madrid Derby, and also spoke about the Argentine national team and Messi.

Regarding his decision to transfer from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid, Alvarez said, “My football career craves change and new challenges. For this decision, I consulted with my family, friends, and teammates, who supported and assisted me, which was a key factor in my decision to transfer. Especially De Paul, who gave me a lot of advice. Simeone also had extensive exchanges with me, and his football philosophy and passion moved me, as did the atmosphere at Atletico Madrid.”

Regarding the Champions League, Alvarez said, “I believe Atletico Madrid has the ability to reach the Champions League final. I believe we can do it because our squad can compete with any team.” When talking about the Madrid Derby, Alvarez believes, “This is one of the most important matches in the world.”

Reflecting on his time at Manchester City, Alvarez said, “There, I gained a lot and had a wonderful time. During the transfer period, some unpleasant things happened, but they were exaggerated by the media and public opinion. So, I don’t think I left Manchester City in a bad way. I was very happy at City, but some words weren’t made clear, or some things were twisted.” Talking about Guardiola, Alvarez said, “He taught me different football philosophies and playing styles, he is a great coach. Playing under him, I learned a lot.” Alvarez revealed, “Guardiola told me that if one day I could visit City again, it would be a great thing because everyone would be happy to see me return. So, if there’s a chance, I might go back.”

Talking about Scaloni, Alvarez said, “He is a very sincere person, and this sincerity is uncommon. He will tell us who should play and who shouldn’t, which depends on the match and his feelings.” Talking about Messi, Alvarez said, “When Messi is not around, Argentina plays a bit strangely because Messi’s influence on the team’s style of play is too significant. In recent games without Messi, we have had to try hard to make adjustments.” Regarding whether Messi can participate in the 2026 World Cup, Alvarez said, “Yes, I think he can. But it depends on himself. If he is in good health and willing to play, feeling he can help the team, then it would be great.”