Julian Alvarez’s future at Atletico Madrid was already troublesome and after Sunday evening, it seems to be getting worse.
The Argentine ahead was as soon as once more on the centre of consideration throughout Atletico’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal, however not due to what he did with the ball.
Alvarez was booed by sections of his personal supporters whereas warming up, obtained an excellent louder response when he got here off the bench after which discovered himself on the coronary heart of extra controversy after the ultimate whistle.
For Barcelona, who view Alvarez as a priority target, these scenes is not going to have gone unnoticed.
The Blaugrana have been clear about their curiosity, whereas the participant has made no secret of his want to go away Atletico.
But the largest impediment stays precisely the place it has been for a lot of the summer time: Atletico are unwilling to promote him to their La Liga rivals.
That stand-off has left everybody caught. Alvarez desires out, Barcelona need the participant and Atletico don’t wish to assist both of them.
Now, with the connection between the ahead and the membership’s supporters changing into tense, the ultimate days of the switch window might develop into much more uncomfortable.
Boos on the Metropolitano modified the temper
Alvarez started the Villarreal match on the bench, however he was already receiving a hostile response from components of the house crowd as he warmed up.
📺 DIRECTO @JijantesFC
💥 Este ha sido el recibimiento de la afición del Atlético cuando han dicho el nombre de Julian Álvarez por megafonía
🔗 https://t.co/OGW0AKAWMl pic.twitter.com/QIscCIc2jj
— Jijantes FC (@JijantesFC) August 23, 2026
When Diego Simeone launched him within the 66th minute, the response grew to become louder.
For a participant who has publicly expressed his want to go away, the anger from the stands was hardly shocking, nevertheless it was nonetheless a placing second.
The connection between Alvarez and the Atletico help has been positioned below critical stress, significantly with Barcelona being his preferred destination.
In opposition to Villarreal, the strain didn’t disappear at full-time.
Because the Atletico gamers moved in direction of the followers, Alvarez headed straight in direction of the tunnel, one thing that obtained much more boos.
Nonetheless, Simeone later defined that the choice had not been Alvarez’s. Based on the Atletico supervisor, the membership had instructed the ahead to keep away from going close to the supporters.
“Individuals on the membership advised me that the membership had determined he shouldn’t go close to the stands or the followers.
“The membership determined to maintain him away and separate him in order that he might go to the altering rooms,” he defined, as per MARCA.
Atletico refuse to open door for Alvarez exit
Julian Alvarez não se despede dos adeptos do Atleti 😬#DAZNLALIGA pic.twitter.com/0WSIhLeMmc
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) August 23, 2026
Barcelona’s place is now significantly attention-grabbing.
The Catalans have already confronted strong resistance from Atletico over their makes an attempt to signal Alvarez, and the connection between the 2 golf equipment has develop into strained.
Barcelona are subsequently unlikely to power one other public confrontation except there’s a real signal that Atletico’s place has softened, though that has not occurred but.
Simeone, for his half, averted turning the state of affairs right into a public dispute. Requested about Alvarez, the Atletico coach made it clear that his focus stays on the workforce.
“It’s not my place to offer recommendation. I’ve to give attention to my job, which is to offer my all on the pitch.
“If we wish to win a title, we have to stick collectively, have strikers and have top-class strikers. All of us have to work arduous on what’s required.”
Lastly, he was equally reluctant to talk intimately concerning the participant’s frame of mind.
“I’m not going to reply all of Julian’s questions. I perceive the priority and we will speak about what occurred within the match,” he concluded.
