The coach of the Colchonero was emphatic about the continuity of the Argentine forward and assured that he is a key piece of the team
Additionally, the coach reiterated the importance of Álvarez within his sports project and made it clear that he continues to be a central piece of his team. "He is an extraordinary kid," he maintained, before emphasizing: "He is the best player we have offensively, and I still think the same: to build a team around him considering his power, quality, hierarchy, and talent".
Simeone's stance, for now, is unequivocal: Álvarez is part of his plans, and the priority is for him to regain his best condition to return to play. The next chapter of the saga will be his meeting with Gil Marín, which could ultimately determine whether the Argentine stays in Madrid or if the door opens for negotiations with Barcelona.
Since his arrival at Colchonero in mid-2024, the native of Calchín has played 7,516 minutes, distributed over 106 matches, in which he scored 49 goals, provided 17 assists, and received 8 yellow cards.
Amid the uncertainty about his future at Atlético Madrid, Diego Simeone put a stop to the rumors surrounding Julián Álvarez. In the lead-up to the debut against Málaga in the first round of La Liga, the coach backed the management's stance, ruled out the forward for the debut, and assured that the club maintains a clear position regarding Barcelona's interest.
Firstly, the absence of the Spider in the call-up had generated expectations due to the context surrounding the player; however, Simeone explained that the decision also responds to his sporting condition. "We try to take care of the player and wait for him to be in the conditions we understand so that he continues to uphold the name he has and the player he is and what he has given us," he stated.
In this regard, the coach was clear about the Argentine's participation in the debut: "We understand that we do not see this match in those conditions for him to play or participate". With this decision, the former River player could make his debut only in the second round of the championship against Villarreal next Sunday, August 23.
Beyond the physical issue, Álvarez's situation is intertwined with the possibility of a transfer to Barcelona. In this regard, Cholo was clear, aligning himself with the stance expressed by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, the CEO of Atlético, who stated that the forward is not for sale. "I believe that if the owner of the club speaks so decisively as he did, I think there is no more to say. This is like in trials: no place," Cholo expressed, thus closing the debate surrounding a potential departure of the striker.
