Julian Alvarez Returns to Atletico Madrid Amid Transfer Turmoil
Julian Alvarez is back in the Atletico Madrid squad – but the storm around him is nowhere near over.
The Argentina forward, who has pushed for a move away and made no secret of his wish to join Barcelona, has been named among the substitutes for Atletico’s La Liga clash with Villarreal. Diego Simeone starts without a recognised centre-forward, yet still drags Alvarez back into the fold after a week that has turned toxic.
From training ground anger to matchday return
Alvarez trained with the squad ahead of the game, a routine session set against anything but routine surroundings. Around the Majadahonda complex, posters appeared on Friday morning, blunt and unforgiving. “JULIAN FUERA” – “JULIAN OUT” – screamed the signs, with his No. 19 crudely crossed out.
The message from sections of the Atletico support was clear: if he wants Barcelona, let him go.
Inside the club, the stance is very different. Atletico have refused to sanction a move to the Camp Nou, and while Arsenal have also been in the frame – with Alvarez understood to have spoken to Mikel Arteta about a switch to the Emirates – that option simply does not stir him in the same way. Barcelona is his preference. Arsenal is not.
Simeone digs in around his striker
Simeone, as ever, has stepped into the line of fire. Speaking before the Villarreal match, he confirmed Alvarez’s return after the forward missed the midweek win over Malaga.
“Julian Alvarez will be in the squad tomorrow,” he said. “For me, Julian is an extremely important player for us to achieve our objectives. As long as he’s with the team, I’m going to look after him.”
The Atletico coach refused to turn on his player despite the anger in the stands.
“I respect our fans. I always have, but I don’t agree with insults or abuse,” he insisted. “Every word is being scrutinised by people waiting to create conflict and uncertainty. There is no uncertainty. Miguel was very clear. He is our player and we need him.”
Simeone had previously justified Alvarez’s absence against Malaga by pointing to his physical state after an extended break following the World Cup.
“We don’t believe Julián Alvarez is in the right condition to play or take part for tomorrow’s game,” he said before that fixture. “Hopefully, over these next four days, he’ll make further progress and we’ll be closer to where we want him to be.”
Four days on, Alvarez is back on the team sheet. The club’s message is that he stays. For now.
Transfer tension and a looming reshuffle
Behind the scenes, Atletico are still planning for the future of their forward line. Even as they dig their heels in over Alvarez, they have emerged as frontrunners to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, with reports in Spain suggesting the Senegal striker has already “said yes” to the move.
So Alvarez sits on the bench against Villarreal, wanted by Barcelona, courted by Arsenal, protected by Simeone and targeted by his own fans.
If this is what it looks like when Atletico insist “there is no uncertainty,” what happens when the window opens again?
