Simeone attempts to shield Alvarez from fan backlash
Julian Alvarez will remain at Atletico Madrid until at least January after his preferred summer move to Barcelona collapsed, yet his most pressing challenge lies in repairing a fractured relationship with the club’s supporters. Diego Simeone is attempting to reintegrate the Argentina forward into the team, but the atmosphere around him remains hostile following his public declaration of interest in joining a direct La Liga rival.
The discord was unmistakable during the home draw with Villarreal. Alvarez, 26, was booed when his name was read out before kick-off, jeered during the warm-up, and met with further disapproval when he appeared as a substitute. After the final whistle, while the rest of the squad stayed out to acknowledge a Metropolitano crowd of around 70,000, he walked alone down the tunnel. Simeone later made clear that the club, not the player, had instructed that move.
Illness then kept Alvarez out of three training sessions and ruled him out of the trip to Sevilla, where Atletico won 3-1 and Alex Baena filled in as a false nine to score twice. Alvarez had already sat out the season opener against Malaga after Simeone said he required additional training following his return from pre-season. He returned to full training on Sunday, placing him back in contention for a demanding run of fixtures.
Away trips offer chance to rebuild match rhythm
Atletico now embark on three consecutive away matches against Athletic Club, Liverpool and Real Sociedad, before returning to Madrid to face Osasuna and Real Madrid. Simeone may use that travel window to ease Alvarez back into the side without exposing him immediately to the home crowd’s unrest.
The manager has not wavered in his public backing. He has repeatedly identified Alvarez as one of Atletico’s most important offensive players, citing his power and quality. Those words are supported by the forward’s record since arriving from Manchester City in August 2024 for a reported £81.5m on a six-year deal: 49 goals and 17 assists in 107 appearances. Those numbers explain why the club continues to frame him as a cornerstone of the attack despite the supporter backlash.
Only on-pitch form can repair broken trust
The gap between the dressing room and the stands is stark. Simeone has presented Alvarez as a player worth fighting for, actively trying to shield him through a difficult period. Sections of the fanbase, however, regard the summer’s events as a betrayal, particularly because the desired destination was Barcelona—a club Atletico supporters have been conditioned to view with deep suspicion after past defections.
The most relevant precedent inside the squad is Antoine Griezmann, whose own 2019 switch to Barcelona caused a similar rupture. Griezmann eventually found his way back to the fold, but that reconstruction was built slowly through performances rather than public statements. Alvarez’s situation need not follow an identical timeline, yet the mechanism for redemption appears the same: goals, pressing, creating space and leadership on the pitch now that the Frenchman has left.
With no transfer possible until January, Alvarez has no alternative but to focus on football. Until then, only form in the matches ahead can bridge the divide between Simeone’s trust and the scepticism of the terraces.