Football is not just about goals and trophies – it is also a place where people’s truest emotions are revealed. Recently, Argentine and British media simultaneously reported that Julian Álvarez, the bright star of Manchester City and the Argentina national team, suffered a great mental shock when he received bad news from his home country. The person who called him was Rafael Álvarez, Julian’s younger brother, who informed him that their mother had serious health problems and was rushed to the hospital.
According to sources close to him, the incident happened right after Man City’s training session last week. Julian Álvarez, who is very close to his family, could not hold back his tears when he heard the news. A witness told The Sun: “Julian was stunned when he heard the phone call. He left the training session, sat in silence for a long time, then burst into tears. Everyone in the team, including Pep Guardiola, understood that it was a family matter and respected his privacy.”
Rafael – Julian’s younger brother, who plays semi-professional football for Abbey Hey FC in England – was the first to hear the news. He immediately called his brother to inform him, while the whole family in Argentina was taking their mother to the local hospital. According to the story, the mother of the two brothers fainted due to exhaustion and dehydration after a long period of overwork.
This shock came at a time when Julian Álvarez was in good form at Manchester City, scoring continuously in the Premier League and Champions League. Therefore, the bad news made both the coaching staff and fans extremely worried. On social networks, thousands of Man City and Argentina fans sent words of encouragement, shared and wished Álvarez’s family to overcome the difficult period.
A source close to the player told the Daily Mail: “Julian is a very emotional person. He always calls his mother after every game. Family is the most important thing to him. When he heard that his mother was in hospital, it was a real mental blow.”
After receiving the news, Julian Álvarez is said to have asked the coaching staff for a few days off to fly back to his hometown of Calchín, Argentina. However, after receiving a notification from his family that his condition was stable, he decided to stay in England, training while waiting for good news from the doctor. Many of his teammates at Man City, including Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish, sent him words of encouragement, telling him to stay strong and believe in the best.
The following evening, Rafael called again – but this time with good news. According to the story, Álvarez’s mother’s condition had stabilized after receiving intensive treatment at a local hospital. Doctors confirmed that she was only weak from stress and lack of rest, with no serious complications. Rafael reassured his brother: “Mom is fine. The doctor said that all she needs is rest and a balanced diet and she will recover soon.”
Julian Álvarez then posted a short article on the social network X (Twitter) in Spanish, roughly translated: “Sometimes football makes you forget the most precious things. Thank you everyone for your concern – my mom is being treated and will be well soon. My family is the reason I keep fighting.”
The good news made fans breathe a sigh of relief. The image of Julian Álvarez returning to the training ground the next day, with his familiar smile on his face, spread strongly on social networks – as a symbol of strength and family love.
In conclusion, although the incident made fans’ hearts ache for a moment, fortunately, Julian Álvarez’s mother is out of danger and is recovering well. Perhaps, that tearful phone call from Rafael not only made Julian love his family more, but also helped him realize that: no matter how brilliant his career is, family is still the most important thing in every person’s life.
