Simeone Opens Up About Julián Álvarez

Latest news at Atlético de Madrid. Julián Álvarez once again has the public support of Diego Simeone at the rojiblanco club. The Argentine coach praised his progress after the matches against Alavés and Manchester United, and the forward contributed with an assist in the goal that secured a 0-1 victory against Espanyol on October 17. His future is under scrutiny again after Barcelona tried to sign him during the last transfer window.

El Cholo Simeone defends Julián Álvarez's progress

On October 14, after the Champions League match against Manchester United, Simeone highlighted that Álvarez is approaching the level expected of him. The coach also linked the fans' response to the players' performance, amid criticisms the Argentine had faced in previous weeks.

The message is a show of support for the forward, although it does not guarantee his starting spot. Against Espanyol, Álvarez began on the bench and entered in the second half. His involvement proved crucial in the outcome of the match.

In the 89th minute, the Argentine connected with Álex Baena, who scored the winning goal for Atlético. The play allowed the team to secure three points at Cornellà and confirmed that Álvarez can contribute even when not in the starting eleven.

Managing playing time is one of the issues Simeone is handling during this stage of the season. The coach has distributed prominence among different attackers and has emphasized that all players must be ready to perform when their opportunity arises.

@Sir_Gunners https://t.co/LlHg2AnxrR

— . (@Guimaaaaarice) October 18, 2026

Atlético de Madrid keeps Julián Álvarez despite Barcelona's interest

The forward's continuity is also influenced by the events of the summer. Barcelona tried to make progress in his signing, but Atlético de Madrid refused to let him go. The deal did not materialize, and Álvarez remained in the rojiblanco squad.

Barça's interest once again put the striker at the center of the transfer market; however, there is no evidence of an agreement for his transfer or closed negotiations for the upcoming window. Currently, the immediate sporting scenario revolves around his role in Simeone's team.

The situation also had repercussions in his professional environment. As reported by Cadena SER on October 9, Álvarez parted ways with his agent, Fernando Hidalgo, after the failed Barça deal. The station mentioned that the player was considering alternatives to choose a new representative.

This move does not confirm a new Barcelona approach but adds another element to monitor a case that already took up a significant part of last summer's news. Any progress will depend on the player's future decisions and Atlético's stance.

Julián Álvarez's starting spot, the next step

Álvarez's challenge is to solidify his presence in the starting lineup and maintain his offensive contribution. The assist against Espanyol came in a match where he was not a starter, so his performance from the bench also factors into the coach's evaluation.

Simeone has made it clear that he expects development from the Argentine while simultaneously keeping the competition open in the forward line. The upcoming schedule will reveal whether his impactful involvement at Cornellà translates into more starting minutes.

For now, Julián Álvarez remains at Atlético de Madrid, and Simeone's public backing is the clearest sign of his sporting situation. Barcelona stands as a relevant background player in the market, but the forward's immediate priority is to earn continuity through performances that warrant the coach's confidence.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Simeone se sincera sobre Julián Álvarez