After his participation in the 2026 World Cup with the Argentine National Team, and amid the rumors linking him with Barcelona, Julián Álvarez returned to training with Atlético de Madrid, but his return was far from the usual for one of the team's main figures.
The Spider underwent the corresponding medical checks alongside other players who also participated in the World Cup, such as Marcos Llorente and Álex Baena. His integration into training will be gradual and it is expected that he will start training on the pitch in the coming days.
The future of the forward is one of the major focal points of the transfer market. Barcelona maintains its interest in the Argentine and considers him one of its priorities to strengthen the attack, while the stance from Madrid remains that Álvarez is not for sale.
Atlético Madrid does not want to sell Julián Álvarez
The management led by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has already rejected offers ranging from 100 to 120 million euros. Additionally, Atlético reported the Catalan club to FIFAand theRoyal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for alleged improper contacts with a player who still has a valid contract with the institution.
On the other side, the Catalan club hopes that the Madrid team will change its stance and agree to negotiate. The possible departure of Ferran Torres, with Paris Saint-Germain as one of the destinations appearing on the scene, could also create space to move forward with the Argentine forward.
In this scenario, a conversation will be crucial to understand how the story will continue. Julián Álvarez is scheduled to meet with Diego Simeone on Wednesday, once the coach returns from the break he took after the Atlético's friendly tour in Japan. The meeting, which was initially planned for this Monday, could serve for both to discuss the forward's role and his situation within the project.
