Julián Álvarez Reveals Why He Refused to Emulate Messi and Co. – A Childhood Decision Behind It All

While the vast majority of players in the Argentine squad, including captain Lionel Messi, sport tattoos commemorating their World Cup victory or other personal motifs, Julián Álvarez's skin remains unadorned.

In an interview with L'Équipe, he revealed that during a national team gathering last year, someone from the squad pointed out this fact. He confirmed that he is the only player without tattoos and, with a smile, explained why he has never gone down that path.

"Someone in the national team recently told me I was the only player without a tattoo. I'm not doing it to be different at all costs. When I was little, my father always told us: 'No tattoos, no cigarettes, no alcohol.' As adults, of course, everyone makes their own decisions, but I simply don't feel the need to get anything tattooed," the 26-year-old Argentine clarified.

Beyond his personal stance on tattoos, Álvarez has recently dominated headlines primarily concerning his club future. During the past summer transfer window, he found himself on Barcelona's radar. The Catalan giants aimed to make him a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

However, the anticipated transfer ultimately fell through, and the skillful footballer, who has a valid contract with Atlético until 2030, remained in Madrid. Nevertheless, the unsuccessful saga left significant traces behind the scenes.

According to September reports, the striker is seriously considering a drastic step: ending his long-standing collaboration with his agent, Fernando Hidalgo. Spanish media are already speculating about his move to The Elegant Game agency, owned by former Argentine international Javier Pastore.

Atlético Madrid's CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil, also weighed in sharply on the tense situation over the summer. Regarding the transfer saga, he stated that Julián Álvarez is heavily influenced by those around him who are trying to deceive and mislead him.

However, the summer drama and fitness issues took their toll on his current season. In the opening rounds of the Spanish La Liga, he was primarily coming off the bench and struggling to regain his form. A hint of improvement emerged in the Champions League opener against Liverpool, where he registered an assist in his first start.