Julián Araujo claims he held talks with West Ham United’s Edson Álvarez before moving to AFC Bournemouth in the summer window.
The 23-year-old arrived at Bournemouth from Barcelona and signed a contract until 2029.
He has been speaking to Fox Sports Mexico about his new life at Bournemouth. This is when he revealed about the conversations, he had with the West Ham star prior to joining Andoni Iraola’s side.
The 26-year-old joined West Ham from Ajax in August 2023. He plays alongside Araujo for the Mexico national team and would have had a role in his compatriot’s arrival in the Premier League last month.
“I spoke with Edson, before my signing was closed. I spoke to him to ask him what he thought, what he recommended, and we did talk a lot,” he said.
The fullback has also opened up on how the Hammers midfielder continues to help him to settle down in a new country. The former Barcelona man has revealed he travels from Bournemouth to London to visit Álvarez.
“Sometimes when I have days off, I go spend the day with him in London, we get along very well, he is someone who helps me a lot. If I feel lonely, he opens his house to me,” Araujo explained.
“We go to dinner, he is someone who has helped me a lot to adapt to this league, besides it is a very different culture and Edson knows that.
“He went to Amsterdam and has lived alone for a long time, he has been here for almost five or six years, and he knows what one feels when you are alone and live alone.
“He has his family, and he makes me feel like part of his family, inviting me to dinner, to his house. He’s someone I respect a lot, he is my brother.”
The Mexico international fullback has also received support from Spanish speaking players at Bournemouth.
“I get along very well with the people who speak Spanish, with Luis [Sinisterra], with Evan, with Marcos [Senesi], with Kepa, with Dean [Huijsen], but I get along well with everyone, but the little group is us and the truth is that they are all very good people, and the truth is that it is a very top dressing room,” he added.
Araujo has made five appearances in all competitions for Bournemouth, and it includes two Premier League starts.
