Julian Alvarez transfer impasse grows as Atletico Madrid face fresh scrutiny

Reports in Argentina, particularly from journalists close to Julian Alvarez, have strongly denied claims that the Atletico Madrid forward has changed his position and told team-mates he regrets deciding to leave the club. Those reports insist the reality is very different from the rumours surrounding the player known as “The Spider”.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo has reported that Alvarez feels deceived by Atletico Madrid’s management, while suggesting that his recent public comments were made at the club’s direct request.

Martin Arevalo, the ESPN journalist who conducted the widely discussed interview in which Alvarez hinted that he wanted a change of environment during the World Cup period, has provided further details of the dispute.

According to Arevalo, Atletico’s management asked Alvarez to speak publicly about his desire to leave. That request was reportedly made as a condition of allowing him to depart. The player had already expressed his wish to leave privately, but the club allegedly wanted him to repeat that position in front of the media.

“Diego Simeone does not want to intervene in this decision; he knows the player’s position well, and the final decision is now in the hands of Atletico Madrid’s owner,” Arevalo said.

The journalist also gave a firm assessment of Alvarez’s current frame of mind, saying the Argentina international “cannot remain at the club for another minute because he is completely uncomfortable with this situation”.

Arevalo explained that people close to the player believe Alvarez only made his public comments after receiving a message from Atletico instructing him to submit his transfer request in front of the media.

“The people close to the player confirm that, when he spoke publicly, he had received a message from Atletico asking him to make his request to leave in front of the media, after he had already made it behind closed doors,” Arevalo said.

“They asked him to do that so the fans would understand that the decision to leave was not coming from the club.”

However, Arevalo said the player’s statements subsequently caused dissatisfaction within the Atletico hierarchy.

“But the comments did not please the management later,” he added. “After listening to all sides, it is clear that the situation has become extremely complicated.”

Alvarez reportedly does not want to stay at Atletico. Simeone, who regards the forward as one of the five best players in the world, wants him to remain but is aware of the player’s decision.

The club, meanwhile, is said to be unwilling to sell Alvarez unless his release clause is paid. That figure is reportedly equivalent to five times his market value.

The dispute has left Alvarez in an embarrassing and deeply uncomfortable position, with the Argentina forward apparently finding himself in circumstances he never expected to face.

Although the situation is currently marked by cautious calm, intensive discussions are continuing behind the scenes. Alvarez is expected to take further steps over the coming days as the disagreement with Atletico Madrid develops.