Julián Álvarez trained normally with Atlético Madrid before manager Diego Simeone confirmed the Argentine forward’s inclusion in the squad to face Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés.
Álvarez’s return comes after a difficult few days triggered by the breakdown of his proposed transfer to Barcelona and his subsequent absence from several training sessions. Following the closure of the summer transfer window, he remains with the Colchoneros despite publicly expressing a desire to join the Catalan club.
Barcelona submitted an offer for the 26-year-old, but Atlético rejected negotiations after the club’s self-imposed deadline expired. Consequently, the player now faces the challenge of rebuilding his relationship with the club and its supporters after being booed by fans.
Radio reports indicated that Álvarez suffered from severe distress following the deal’s collapse and the backlash from Atlético fans during the match against Villarreal. As the transfer window shut, ending any remaining prospect of a move to Barça, questions mounted over whether he would return to action or remain sidelined.
Speaking ahead of the Athletic Bilbao fixture, Simeone stated: “Julián will be in the squad tomorrow. He is training well, and we expect the best from him, just as we do from all his teammates.”
The Argentine manager added: “For me, life is full of opportunities, and Julián now has one. We often spend our lives passing judgment; we should judge less and focus more on learning. I hope what happened serves as a valuable experience for him.”
Simeone concluded with a encouraging message: “I hope he is happy, and as Paulo Futre said in a lovely video, that he demonstrates it by scoring goals.” The San Mamés clash now offers Álvarez his first concrete opportunity to put the Barcelona saga behind him and regain the trust of the Atlético faithful.
