Pau Cubarsí hails Julián Álvarez as “Barça level” after Copa defeat, amid Barcelona transfer links with the Atlético Madrid striker
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí has risked inflaming tensions with Atlético Madrid after publicly praising Julián Álvarez, just days after the Argentine tormented Barça in the Copa del Rey.
Atlético thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash, with Álvarez scoring the fourth goal on the stroke of half-time to cap a dominant display.
Cubarsí, one of the defenders who suffered that evening at the hands of Atlético, gave a glowing assessment of Álvarez.
“Julián is a spectacular player. I’ve played against him a lot and had to defend against him. He’s a world-class striker – he’s Barça level, but both Robert [Lewandowski] and Ferran [Torres] are very good and help us a lot.”
While the centre-back was careful to acknowledge current forwards Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, describing Álvarez as “Barça level” will inevitably fuel speculation.
Barcelona have been openly linked with a move for the Argentine forward, who is reportedly viewed as a marquee summer target ahead of the club’s presidential elections on March 15. With campaigning underway, high-profile transfer talk has become part of the narrative surrounding the club’s future direction.
Praise or tapping up?
Cubarsí’s comments come shortly after teammate Ronald Araújo also spoke highly of Álvarez.
Suggested Articles
“He’s a great player; for me, he’s one of the best forwards in the world. You can see the quality he has,” Araújo told Mundo Deportivo.
Two senior defenders publicly admiring a rival’s star striker could easily be interpreted in Madrid as more than simple respect, particularly given the timing and the growing transfer links.
Atlético president Enrique Cerezo had already addressed the speculation prior to the Copa clash.
“Julián is a player under contract with Atlético Madrid and he’s happy,” Cerezo told Egyptian channel Win Win.
“No one from Barça has been in touch officially with us to sign him and that’s all there is to say on the matter.
“All we’re interested in right now is the Copa and getting through this tie against Barça. Nothing else.”
Whether Cubarsí’s remarks were innocent praise or perceived as part of a wider courting strategy, they are unlikely to go unnoticed in the Spanish capital.
With tensions high following the 4-0 defeat and election politics swirling in Barcelona, talk about Álvarez’s future is not likely to go away anytime soon.