Suarez urges Alvarez to delay Atletico exit: 'I gave my all for Liverpool and it was my best season'

Luis Suarez has urged Julian Alvarez to think carefully before forcing an exit from Atletico Madrid, drawing a direct parallel with his own decision to stay at Liverpool in 2013 rather than join Arsenal.

Speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena SER’s El Larguero programme, Suarez recalled how captain Steven Gerrard persuaded him to shelve his move to Arsenal — a club that had infamously submitted an offer of £40 million plus £1 for the Uruguayan that summer. Gerrard’s promise was straightforward: deliver a great season and Liverpool would help him secure a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

“I said I wanted to go to Arsenal. I wanted to play in the Champions League,” Suarez said. “The captain, Gerrard, came to me and convinced me, ‘If you have a great season, we’ll help you and you’ll be able to go to Barcelona, Real Madrid, wherever you want.’ He convinced me, and I went out to apologise because my comments hadn’t been appropriate at the time. I gave my all for Liverpool, the fans forgave me, and it turned out to be my best season at Liverpool.”

Suarez stayed at Anfield for one further campaign — widely regarded as the finest of his career in England — before completing a move to Barcelona in 2014.

The 37-year-old sees echoes of that situation in Alvarez’s current standoff with Atletico. The 26-year-old Argentine recently informed the Spanish club of his desire to leave, with Barcelona, Arsenal and Real Madrid all reported to be interested.

Suarez acknowledged the decision ultimately rests with Alvarez, but suggested Diego Simeone and the Atletico supporters could yet change his mind. “Diego Simeone and the fans might convince him that this could be Atletico’s year. Or perhaps Julian will stand his ground and say, ‘That’s it.’ That depends on each person,” he said.

Suarez was effusive in his praise of Alvarez’s qualities, describing him as a player any club in the world would pursue. “Barcelona and any team in the world will want him and will be willing to pay whatever it takes because he’s a great target man. He moves well between the centre-backs. He helps out a lot defensively, and he’ll have wingers who’ll provide him with plenty of assists. He’s a fast, powerful player.”

For now, Alvarez’s club future is on hold. He is currently focused on international duty, with Argentina set to face Cape Verde in the last 32 of the World Cup on Friday.