Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will star in another edition of one of the world’s most important derbies this Sunday. The LaLiga match, key to the final stretch of the season, comes just after both capital city teams have secured their places among the top eight in the Champions League.

And in the lead-up to the match, which will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu, legends from both teams praised the standout players on each side: Argentine Julian Álvarez and Uruguayan Federico Valverde.

Guti, an idol for Real Madrid, and Raul Garcia, a historic figure for Atletico, discussed the derby as part of Mahou’s “Cinco de Cinco” campaign, touching on some of the most important topics surrounding the match between Cholo Simeone’s and Alvaro Arbeloa’s teams.

One of the most significant moments of the interview came when they were asked which player from the rival team they would like to have on their own squad.

“I would sign Julian Alvarez because I think he is a difference-making player for big teams,” Guti acknowledged.

And Garcia directed his praise toward the Falcon: “If I had to choose someone from the opposition, I would choose Fede. Ever since he was at Depor, he seemed like a spectacular player to me.”

Additionally, the Atletico legend pointed out that the Spider “will be the one who makes the difference,” while also speaking about his future: “He will play if the coach puts him in, which is what he has to do. And he will wait until the season ends. But as we always say, the player thinks about the season he is currently playing, and no one ever knows what the future may hold.”

Guti, meanwhile, was asked whether he imagined Valverde would become the player he is today when he coached him at Real Madrid Castilla: “I knew it perfectly. When he came… I took him in his first year, and he was shy; he struggled to integrate, and that meant he wasn’t giving 100%.

I always told him: ‘You can give much more, because you have the conditions for that.’ And now he has come out of his shell. He is vital, important. Not only because of the goals, but he also contributes a lot offensively and defensively, and he is very loved in the locker room.”

“He is that player who can give you a lot, both offensively and defensively, he has goals, he has attacking presence, he is an impressive player, and I think Arbeloa has found the ideal position for him,” he concluded about the Uruguayan, whom he considered the MVP of derby No. 304.

Finally, the former players spoke about the goalkeeping absences: Thibaut Courtois will be out, while Jan Oblak is doubtful. Guti indicated that the Belgian’s absence is “significant,” but he trusts “very much” in Andriy Lunin, while Garcia believes Juan Musso “has more than proven his level to compete.”

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