Julián Álvarez will not be part of Atlético Madrid’s squad for their La Liga clash against Sevilla after Diego Simeone confirmed that the Argentine forward is currently not feeling well. The 26-year-old has endured an extremely difficult few weeks at the Spanish club, with uncertainty surrounding his future, a failed attempt to secure a move away and a hostile reaction from sections of the Atlético support creating an increasingly uncomfortable situation.
Álvarez has also missed training this week, and Simeone has now confirmed that he will not travel with the rest of the squad for Saturday’s match. Rather than criticising his striker, however, the Atlético manager made it clear that his priority is helping Álvarez recover and ensuring he feels important again when he is ready to return.
Speaking ahead of the Sevilla game, Simeone confirmed that Álvarez would remain in Madrid rather than travel with his teammates. The Argentine coach explained that the club’s position regarding the striker had already been made clear and said he intends to do everything possible to support him once he returns to training. Simeone’s comments were particularly significant considering how tense the situation around Álvarez has become during the final weeks of the transfer window. Despite everything that has happened, the Atlético boss appears determined to protect the player and rebuild his confidence rather than allowing the transfer controversy to completely destroy their relationship.
A Difficult Few Weeks for Julián Álvarez
Álvarez’s situation has developed into one of the biggest stories of the summer transfer window. The Argentina international made clear that he wanted to leave Atlético Madrid, with Barcelona emerging as his preferred destination, but the Spanish capital club have taken an extremely strong position against selling one of their biggest stars to a direct La Liga rival. Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín went as far as declaring that Álvarez would “never, ever” be sold to Barcelona, while the club’s board unanimously backed the decision not to negotiate a transfer with the Catalan giants.
That decision left Álvarez in an extremely complicated position. He remained an Atlético player despite wanting a move, while Barcelona’s attempts to sign him contributed to an increasingly public dispute between the two clubs. Arsenal have also been heavily linked with the former Manchester City striker, and reports suggest Atlético would be more willing to negotiate with a Premier League club than allow him to strengthen Barcelona. However, Álvarez’s preference for the Catalan club has made finding a solution considerably more difficult, particularly with the transfer window approaching its conclusion.
The situation became even more uncomfortable when Álvarez returned to competitive action. Atlético supporters booed him during the recent 2-2 draw against Villarreal, with jeers heard while he was warming up and again after he entered the match. For a player who has been one of Atlético’s biggest attacking stars, receiving that kind of reaction inside his own stadium represented another dramatic change in circumstances. Álvarez subsequently left the pitch alone after the match, an image that captured just how isolated he appeared to have become during the ongoing dispute.
Simeone Refuses to Turn His Back on Álvarez
Through all the controversy, Simeone has repeatedly attempted to separate the footballer from the transfer dispute. Only days before the situation deteriorated further, the Atlético manager described Álvarez as the team’s best attacking player and said he wanted to construct a team capable of getting the maximum from him. That statement demonstrated how highly Simeone continues to rate the striker regardless of what has happened between Álvarez, his representatives and the club’s hierarchy.
His latest comments continue that approach. Simeone confirmed that Álvarez will not travel to Sevilla but stressed that when the striker eventually returns to training, he intends to make him feel as important as he has always been at Atlético. It would have been easy for the manager to focus on the transfer controversy or question the player’s commitment after such a turbulent summer, but Simeone instead chose to emphasise support. With Álvarez currently away from normal team activity, the immediate priority appears to be giving him the space and assistance he needs before discussing when he might play again.
That approach is particularly important because the situation has now moved beyond an ordinary disagreement over a transfer. Players are professionals, but they are also people who can be affected by uncertainty, criticism and intense public pressure. Álvarez has gone from being celebrated as one of Atlético’s most important players to being booed by sections of his own supporters while his future is debated almost daily across the Spanish and international media. Whatever eventually happens with his transfer, the human side of that experience should not be ignored.
Reports About Álvarez’s Wellbeing Should Be Treated Carefully
There have been reports in Spain concerning Álvarez’s emotional wellbeing, including claims attributed to COPE that have generated considerable discussion on social media. However, neither Atlético Madrid nor Simeone has publicly announced a specific mental-health diagnosis. For that reason, claims that the striker is suffering from depression should not be presented as established medical fact unless Álvarez himself, his representatives or the club provide confirmation.
What can be said with confidence is that Álvarez is going through an extremely difficult period. Atlético’s CEO has publicly acknowledged that the striker has been emotionally affected by everything surrounding his future, while Simeone has now confirmed that he is not feeling well enough to travel with the squad. He has also missed training during the week, meaning his absence against Sevilla is not simply a tactical decision connected to the transfer market.
The distinction matters. Mental-health conditions are medical issues and should not be diagnosed through rumours, body language or transfer reports. Supporters can express concern for Álvarez and wish him well without turning an unconfirmed report into a definitive statement about his health. At this stage, Atlético’s public position is that the player is unwell, while Simeone has made clear that the door remains open for him to return when he is ready.
Football Can Wait for Julián
Álvarez’s absence creates a sporting problem for Atlético, especially because Simeone has already described him as his strongest attacking player. The club have started the new La Liga campaign without finding complete stability in attack, and losing their leading striker for the trip to Sevilla makes the manager’s selection even more difficult. However, there are situations where football has to become secondary, and this appears to be one of them.
The transfer window will eventually close. Álvarez may remain at Atlético, a late move elsewhere could still develop, or the relationship between the player and club may have to be repaired over the months ahead. Those questions will be answered in time. The immediate concern should be ensuring the player is okay and receives whatever support he needs away from the pressure surrounding his future.
Simeone’s words suggest that Atlético’s coaching staff understand that. Despite the transfer request, the Barcelona controversy and the reaction from supporters, the manager has not publicly abandoned his striker. Instead, he has promised to work to make Álvarez feel important again when he returns.
For now, there should be no pressure on Julián Álvarez to explain everything publicly. He will miss Atlético Madrid’s match against Sevilla because he is not feeling well, and his return to football can wait until he is ready.
Whatever shirt he eventually wears when the transfer situation is resolved, the most important thing at this moment is much simpler than football: get well soon, Julián.
