According to Mundo Deportivo, former Barcelona player M. López stated that Álvarez would have been better suited to Barcelona this summer and claimed that Atlético Madrid did not fulfill its promises to the player.
M. López told Argentine media TYC that Barcelona would have been the ideal destination for Álvarez. He said: "He is Argentina's number 9, so I really hoped to see him join Barcelona. In my opinion, Barcelona plays a better style of football than Atlético Madrid. To be honest, I would have preferred to see him move elsewhere this summer, as that would have unlocked his potential to a much greater extent."
The former player also revealed why Álvarez considered leaving Atlético Madrid. According to him, the "Rojiblancos" failed to honor certain promises made to the player. M. López explained: "When he left Manchester City, he wanted regular playing time because he had another phenomenal player competing for the same spot. He joined Atlético Madrid and did get opportunities to play. Later, he spoke with the club's management, and they discussed certain matters and made him promises about conditions, but ultimately they didn't deliver."
M. López previously worked with Simeone at Catania in Serie A. He emphasized that his opinion was not rooted in any dissatisfaction with the Argentine coach; rather, he acknowledged the excellent work Simeone has accomplished at Atlético Madrid. He said: "I think Simeone's achievements at Atlético Madrid are remarkable, because when I first arrived in Spain, Atlético Madrid couldn't compete for any titles. He transformed this team."
However, the former Barcelona player maintained that Barcelona's style of play would better suit Álvarez's characteristics. He concluded: "Given Álvarez's playing style, I would choose a team that plays better football, and in my opinion, that's Barcelona." These comments have once again linked the Argentine forward with Barcelona, raising the question: What exactly did Atlético Madrid promise Álvarez, and why, according to M. López, did the club fail to deliver on those promises.