In the 12th round of La Liga, Atletico Madrid will face Levante at home. 'Little Spider' Alvarez is in hot form this season and is Atletico Madrid's top attacker. He has played 17 times on behalf of the team and scored 9 goals and 5 assists. He is the team's leading scorer. French "L'Equipe" conducted an in-depth interview with Alvarez.

In the interview, Alvarez talked about joining the Real Madrid youth training camp when he was 11 years old and having the opportunity to stay. He also talked about whether his height of 170cm has any impact on playing the No. 9 position.

The following is the content of the interview

"You grew up in Calcin, a small town in the province of Córdoba, where most of the residents are farmers. What are the chances of a boy born there becoming a professional football player?

In a town with a population of only 3,000, opportunities are very limited. In the past, Calcin also had two players become professional players (in the 1980s): One was Herman "Tato" Matlotto, who played in Argentina and Mexico, and the other was Jose Luis "Chivo" Rolfo. Overall, opportunities from such a remote area were few and far between. Still, I was spotted by scouts, and from then on, other doors opened for me."

How did your upbringing influence your journey?

From the beginning, my family instilled in me many important values: responsibility, hard work, and dedication to achieving goals. I witnessed firsthand what my parents did every day and it left a lasting impression on me. My mother was a teacher and my father worked in the fields before becoming a truck driver. He has always had a strong connection to the land. My mother took care of us at home, and we often went to my grandmother's house to play with my brothers. My grandmother was an integral pillar of our growth.

When did you develop the desire to become a football player?

Very early. I had it when I was in kindergarten, around four or five years old, when I first started writing. My two brothers and I played football every day on the street and in the small square near our home, and we continued to play after returning home. Mom would scold us for breaking things. I never thought I would have any other future. Fortunately, I achieved this dream and I am very happy about it.

Is being the youngest of three boys an advantage?

When you are the youngest in your family, your older siblings will set an example for you. They are always the first to cause trouble and are often caught and scolded. By watching them, I learned to be more resourceful and try not to make the same mistakes again. I also play a lot with them and their friends. Of course, this is physically demanding. I had to learn to overcome the age and size differences.

A few years ago, the legendary Argentinian coach Jorge Griffa told us that boys from the countryside have the ideal conditions to become football players: fewer temptations and a superior lifestyle.

There is some truth to this. Factors such as family, environment and where you grew up are all important. Small town life is calmer than the "crazy" megacity of Buenos Aires. I grew up in Kalchin until I was 15 years old. Everything I experienced there has shaped me into who I am today: my outlook on life, the way I play, and my attitude of always playing with all my heart, passion and desire are the same as when I played there.

Tell us about your first trial in Buenos Aires.

That was an unforgettable experience. It was my first long distance trip (600 kilometers from Calcin to Buenos Aires). I was nine years old and went on a trial with Argentino Juniors (home team of Diego Maradona and Juan Roman Riquelme) with two other boys and a guardian. To be honest, I didn’t have a great time during that week of workouts. I was very young and used to being in a family environment and hanging out with people I'd known since I was a kid...and then it all got a little crazy. The club offered me a contract but I didn't feel ready to be that far away from my family. I was warned at the time that "you only get one chance," especially coming from such a small town. What I thought to myself was: "We'll see." After that, I went to River Plate, Boca Juniors, Banfield, Cordoba and other places for trials... but I was still not ready. I told my father that if they called and offered me more trials, I wouldn’t go because I knew I wouldn’t stay at boarding school in Buenos Aires. When I was 15 years old, I told myself it was time to give it a try before it was too late. I was the top scorer in the regional league, but I knew that if I wanted to go professional, I had to start in the youth teams of a big club. I chose River Plate because I am a fan of theirs. I passed the trial and officially joined the team in January 2016.

You also had a trial with Real Madrid, right?

Yes, I had the opportunity to go to Madrid when I was 11 years old. My father accompanied me to Spain for about 20 days. I trained with Real Madrid for a while and then participated in a tournament in Peralada (near Girona) which we won. But if I wanted to stay, my whole family would have to come and live with me. It was a great experience, but it was still too early for me.

You are 1.70 meters tall, which is indeed unusual for a center. Has anyone ever said that your height will prevent you from becoming a professional player?

I clearly remember my first trial with River Plate. They asked me my year of birth and what position I played. I replied, "Number 9, 2000." They retorted, "Number 9? He was number 9 in your age group," pointing to a tall guy. But I'm not worried at all because I know my strengths. I can play as the 9th position, or I can play a little further back, on the right or the left. I'm capable of doing both, and I'm very adaptable. Height has never been an issue.