Julian Alvarez Returns to Atletico Madrid Squad Amid Transfer Saga
Julian Alvarez is back in the Atletico Madrid squad – and right in the eye of the storm.
The Argentina forward, at the centre of a simmering transfer saga, has been named among the substitutes for Atleti’s La Liga clash with Villarreal after being left out of the midweek win over Malaga. Diego Simeone starts without a recognised centre-forward, but he has Alvarez available if he wants to change the game from the bench.
Simeone had already set the tone on the eve of the match.
“Julian Alvarez will be in the squad tomorrow,” he said in his press conference. “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.”
That reassurance comes at the end of a volatile week. Alvarez trained with the squad ahead of Villarreal, but his desire to force a move to Barcelona has gone down badly with sections of the Atletico support. The reaction has been raw, visual and loud.
Outside the club’s Majadahonda training base, fans put up signs reading “JULIAN FUERA” – “JULIAN OUT” – with his No. 19 shirt number crossed out. The message was unmistakable: if he wants out, they’re ready to see him go.
Inside the club, though, the stance is very different. Atletico have blocked a switch to Barcelona and are determined to keep him. Alvarez, who previously shone at Manchester City, is also understood to have held talks with Mikel Arteta about a move to Arsenal, but that option does not carry the same pull for him as the Camp Nou.
Simeone has chosen his side in the dispute, and it is firmly with his player.
“I respect our fans. I always have, but I don’t agree with insults or abuse,” he said. “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.”
The coach had initially justified Alvarez’s absence against Malaga by pointing to fitness rather than friction. Coming off an extended break after the World Cup, the forward was, in Simeone’s words, not ready.
“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 in the squad and sitting in full view of a fanbase split between anger and admiration. The club hierarchy remain adamant he stays, even as they work on reinforcing the attack.
Atletico have been heavily linked with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who is reported to have already “said yes” to a move. If that deal goes through, Simeone could soon have a new No. 9 to shape his forward line.
For now, though, all eyes are on the bench. On Alvarez. On how long Atletico can keep hold of a player who wants Barcelona, while insisting he is still “extremely important” to everything they plan to achieve.
