As far as Diego Simeone is concerned, Julian Alvarez is still an Atletico player and he hopes it stays that way.
Ahead of Saturday’s match with Sevilla, the Atleti manager says he hopes to see the wantaway Argentina forward back in action soon. Alvarez has been left out of the squad for personal reasons.
Alvarez, 26, has been the subject of intense and public interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. The situation with Barca has grown increasingly ugly as the summer has progressed with Atletico releasing a public statement on Thursday that the player will never be sold to the Catalan side. Atletico has accused Barcelona of attempting to unsettle the player.
Still, Simeone wants his countryman back.
“I’m still in the same position, hoping, from a sporting point of view, to be able to help him in the best way so that he continues to be the very important player he is for us,” Alvarez told reporters on Friday. “Julian will not be there against Sevilla, who have just won two games and will be high with confidence.”
Alvarez in his third season at the Metropolitano following an £81.8 million move from Manchester City. He has 49 goals in 107 appearances across all competitions. Alvarez drew the ire of Atleti supporters when he used a post-game interview after Argentina’s World Cup win over Austria to announce that he’d asked for a transfer. In his season debut this past weekend, Alvarez was heartily booed by the home fans when he came on as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with Villarreal.
Simeone says he just wants to get things back to normal with the player.
“From the moment he returns to training, I will do everything I can to make him feel important,” Simeone said. “As long as you have your health, everything in life can be turned around.”
Atleti has four points from its first two La Liga matches. After the visit to Valencia, the team returns home on Sept. 5 to welcome Athletic Club.
The European summer transfer window slams shut on Tuesday for most major leagues. English champions Arsenal remain an option for an Alvarez transfer.
