Julian Alvarez resumes Atletico training as transfer window drama reaches final stage

Julian Alvarez is expected to return to group training with Atletico de Madrid on Sunday, as uncertainty over the striker’s future continues with only hours remaining before the summer transfer window closes.

The Argentina international completed an individual session at Atletico’s Cerro training ground on Saturday morning while his team-mates travelled to Seville. It was the second consecutive day Alvarez had trained with one of the club’s fitness coaches after missing sessions on Wednesday and Thursday because of illness.

His planned return to the squad comes as a move to Barcelona appears increasingly unlikely. Alvarez has accepted that joining the Catalan club next season will be difficult, with the deadline for completing transfers approaching on Tuesday evening.

The forward’s return to his normal training programme has not, however, resolved the wider question over his future. Although he is recovering and preparing to work with his team-mates again, there has been no final decision on whether he will remain at Atletico de Madrid or leave before the transfer deadline.

Alvarez is understood to remain unconvinced by the prospect of returning to the Premier League. Arsenal and Manchester City have shown interest in signing him, but the player continues to reject a move to England and maintains Barcelona as his preferred destination.

That stance makes staying with Atletico the most realistic outcome for now. With the transfer window nearing its conclusion, the Madrid club wants Alvarez to regain full physical and technical sharpness as quickly as possible, particularly because he may still be part of the team for the season ahead.

Atletico does not want to lose further time while the possibility of the striker remaining at the club grows stronger. His return to group training will therefore be welcomed by the club, even though it does not itself represent a final decision on his transfer situation.

For the moment, Alvarez remains an Atletico de Madrid player. The final outcome is expected to become clear over the coming days, before the market closes on Tuesday evening.