Diego Simeone Furious as Julian Alvarez Pushes for Barcelona Move

Diego Simeone is reportedly furious with Julian Alvarez as rumors about a summer transfer to Barcelona intensify. The relationship between the Atletico Madrid manager and his star striker seems to have reached a boiling point amid persistent speculation.

Simeone’s Frustration Grows

The mood inside the Metropolitano stadium has become tense, with reports revealing that Simeone cannot even bring himself to look at Alvarez. The Argentine forward’s ongoing link to a move to Barcelona has left the coach feeling deeply betrayed after publicly standing by him all season.

Phil Kitromilides, a La Liga commentator, shared insights on the situation with CBS Sports: “What I’m hearing is that the dressing room is very, very disappointed with him. And what I’ve been told by someone who knows the situation is that Diego Simeone can’t even look at him. Like, Diego Simeone is furious, absolutely furious with Julian Alvarez. And rightly so.”

A Feeling of Betrayal

Simeone’s anger stems from the unwavering support he gave Alvarez during tough times. Even when the striker went through a four-month goal drought last season, Simeone was his staunchest defender. He saw Alvarez as the foundation of Atletico’s future plans, which makes the current transfer talk hard to accept.

Kitromilides added, “This is his guy, someone he defended publicly, consistently, last season when Alvarez went nearly four months without scoring. Simeone never questioned him, never said a bad word, always gave full backing. Alvarez is their most important player, the franchise player. The whole project revolves around him.”

Barcelona Interest and Alternative Targets

Alvarez missed some training sessions recently, sparking more rumors about his possible exit, but returned to training on Sunday. Despite his apparent wish to join Barcelona, Atletico remains firm in their stance against selling him this window.

Barcelona continue to admire the Argentine international, yet they realize the difficulty in securing his transfer now. As a result, the Catalan club is pursuing other options, reportedly moving closer to signing Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal as a more achievable replacement.

Uncertain Future at Atletico Madrid

Even with the tension, Alvarez is expected to be part of Atletico’s squad for upcoming matches. The club is eager to bring him back fully into the fold despite the looming transfer saga.

Club officials try to maintain a sense of normality amid the strain. Mateu Alemany commented on the situation: “The plan is very clear. We hope he’ll be back in the team quickly and available for the next LaLiga match.”

• Date: 31 Aug 2026
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