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Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has revealed that he would love to bring Argentina international Julian Alvarez into the La Roja setup, describing him as a player who would slot seamlessly into Spain’s style of play. The declaration comes years after the coach caused a stir by voting for Alvarez over Lionel Messi in the 2022 FIFA The Best awards. De la Fuente, who has long admired the forward now leading the line for Atletico Madrid, sees the Argentine as the missing link in the European champions’ tactical structure.

The dream addition to La Roja

Known for being open about his tactical philosophies, De la Fuente’s recent remarks about the Atletico Madrid striker have drawn significant attention in the football world. During a conversation with COPE, the Spanish manager was asked which global superstar he would most like to naturalise or include in the Spanish national team. Without hesitation, his answer was Julian Alvarez.

Explaining his reasoning, the Spain boss said that the 26-year-old forward embodies the qualities he values most in a modern striker, suggesting that Alvarez would flourish in a system currently spearheaded by players such as Mikel Oyarzabal. “I think he is a fantastic player,” De la Fuente said. “I wasn’t doing so badly when I voted for him back then. For my footballing idea, Julian would fit perfectly; he would be a very important player.”

A long-standing admiration

This is not the first time De la Fuente has gone against mainstream opinion to express support for the former Manchester City striker. After Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar, his official ballot for FIFA’s top individual honour surprised many when it did not feature Messi. The Spanish tactician has now reaffirmed that his faith in Alvarez’s top-tier ability has remained strong ever since that tournament.

When questioned on whether he truly believes Alvarez is a better tactical fit than Real Madrid’s new star Kylian Mbappe or Vinicius Junior, De la Fuente stood firm. While acknowledging the brilliance of both, he maintained that Alvarez’s work ethic and adaptability make him the ideal player for his specific footballing vision. “Also Mbappe, Vinicius and many others, but in my idea Julian fits perfectly,” he added.

Defending the controversial decision

De la Fuente’s consistent praise for the Argentine forward has occasionally sparked criticism, particularly from those who believe he failed to give enough recognition to Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Addressing this controversy in a past press conference, the Spanish coach explained that his vote was purely a matter of professional judgment rather than any personal bias. He was quick to stress that his decision was a reflection of footballing preference rather than disrespect toward any player.

“The issue with Julian Alvarez is because I like him,” De la Fuente explained about his choice. “What can I say? I don’t drink; I was perfectly sober. I like him, and is he a world champion? Yes. Have the other players mentioned been world champions? I know. As I said, I just felt like it. Messi won the world championship. He is the greatest, of course. But I didn’t feel like it; I felt like voting for Julian.”

Fitting the Spanish philosophy

These remarks underline De la Fuente’s tactical appreciation for Alvarez’s pressing ability and link-up play — qualities central to Spain’s current attacking philosophy. Since joining Atletico Madrid and working under Diego Simeone, the 26-year-old has continued to display the same tactical intelligence that made him a favourite under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, reinforcing the Spanish coach’s admiration.

Alvarez, who has attracted interest from Barcelona and was reportedly the subject of a rejected €150 million offer from Real Madrid, has maintained impressive individual numbers despite Atletico’s lack of major trophies. Over the past two seasons, he has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists in 106 appearances across all competitions, further proving why De la Fuente views him as a player who would thrive in the Spanish national team setup.