Simeone speaks clearly about Julián Álvarez

Latest news about Atlético de Madrid: The directive of Atlético de Madrid keeps the door closed for the departure of Julián Álvarez, the 26-year-old Argentine forward, after Diego Simeone publicly supported the stance set by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín. The attacker will not start against Málaga, and the club aims to have him back for the second match against Villarreal.

Julián's future has dominated much of the prelude to the league debut. The forward expressed his desire to leave this summer, with FC Barcelona emerging as a primary destination. However, Atlético's response has been firm: Gil Marín even stated they wouldn't entertain offers of 100, 150, or 200 million euros for him.

Atlético de Madrid stands firm on Julián Álvarez

Simeone avoided veering away from the club's established position. The coach adhered to the stance of the top rojiblanco executive, making it clear that, from his perspective, he works with Julián Álvarez as part of the squad for the 2026/27 season.

The forward joined Atlético in 2024 from Manchester City in a deal close to 75 million euros. Since then, he has played 106 matches and scored 49 goals, showcasing his significant role in the sporting planning.

Simeone's intention is to rebuild a considerable portion of the attack around him. The Argentine views him as the main offensive reference following Antoine Griezmann's departure, necessitating a redistribution of responsibilities within the rojiblanca forward line.

Simeone postpones his return to the starting lineup

The next chapter will be strictly sporting. Julián is not a starter for the Málaga debut as he still needs more sessions after rejoining the preseason later following the World Cup. Simeone hopes to have him in better condition for the visit to Villarreal in the second match.

The forward is already training normally with the group and has completed approximately a week of training. In recent sessions, he has been involved in tactical and finishing exercises, although the coaching staff believes he still needs to gain pace before assuming a leading role once again.

His absence forces Simeone to alter the offensive line for the opener. With Alexander Sorloth also sidelined due to injury, the coach has tried an attacking line composed of Ademola Lookman, Arnau Ortiz, and Rodrigo Mendoza.

The transfer market remains open at Atlético

Simeone has not closed the door on further squad changes. He noted that there are still days left in the market for potential moves, following a summer where several players joined late due to their World Cup involvement.

Within this context, Julián's situation remains distinct from the rest. The institutional stance is to retain the player, while from a sporting perspective, the aim is to gradually reintroduce him to the starting lineup once he reaches the physical level required by the coaching staff.

The next checkpoint will be the match against Villarreal. If Julián Álvarez completes the upcoming sessions without issues, Simeone plans to restore his prominence in the second match, while Atlético de Madrid maintains its firm decision not to negotiate his departure during this window.

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