Simeone explains situation surrounding Barcelona priority target after hostile atmosphere: ‘Club decided to keep him away’
· Yahoo Sports
Julian Alvarez’s future at Atletico Madrid was already difficult and after Sunday night, it appears to be getting worse.
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The Argentine forward was once again at the centre of attention during Atletico’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal, but not because of what he did with the ball.
Alvarez was booed by sections of his own supporters while warming up, received an even louder reaction when he came off the bench and then found himself at the heart of more controversy after the final whistle.
For Barcelona, who view Alvarez as a priority target, these scenes will not have gone unnoticed.
The Blaugrana have been clear about their interest, while the player has made no secret of his desire to leave Atletico.
Yet the biggest obstacle remains exactly where it has been for much of the summer: Atletico are unwilling to sell him to their La Liga rivals.
That stand-off has left everyone stuck. Alvarez wants out, Barcelona want the player and Atletico do not want to help either of them.
Now, with the relationship between the forward and the club’s supporters becoming tense, the final days of the transfer window could become even more uncomfortable.
Boos at the Metropolitano changed the mood
Alvarez began the Villarreal match on the bench, but he was already receiving a hostile response from parts of the home crowd as he warmed up.
When Diego Simeone introduced him in the 66th minute, the reaction became louder.
For a player who has publicly expressed his wish to leave, the anger from the stands was hardly surprising, but it was still a striking moment.
The relationship between Alvarez and the Atletico support has been placed under serious pressure, particularly with Barcelona being his preferred destination.
Against Villarreal, the tension did not disappear at full-time.
As the Atletico players moved towards the fans, Alvarez headed directly towards the tunnel, something that received even more boos.
However, Simeone later explained that the decision had not been Alvarez’s. According to the Atletico manager, the club had instructed the forward to avoid going near the supporters.
“People at the club told me that the club had decided he shouldn’t go near the stands or the fans.
“The club decided to keep him away and separate him so that he could go to the changing rooms,” he explained, as per MARCA.
Atletico refuse to open door for Alvarez exit
Barcelona’s position is now particularly interesting.
The Catalans have already faced strong resistance from Atletico over their attempts to sign Alvarez, and the relationship between the two clubs has become strained.
Barcelona are therefore unlikely to force another public confrontation unless there is a genuine sign that Atletico’s position has softened, although that has not happened yet.
Simeone, for his part, avoided turning the situation into a public dispute. Asked about Alvarez, the Atletico coach made it clear that his focus remains on the team.
“It’s not my place to give advice. I have to focus on my job, which is to give my all on the pitch.
“If we want to win a title, we need to stick together, have strikers and have top-class strikers. We all need to work hard on what’s required.”
Lastly, he was equally reluctant to speak in detail about the player’s state of mind.
“I’m not going to answer all of Julian’s questions. I understand the concern and we can talk about what happened in the match,” he concluded.