Julian Alvarez was met with boos and jeers from his own Atletico Madrid supporters on Sunday, intensifying speculation surrounding his future at the club. The Argentine forward, a target for several European clubs, was booed during warm-ups, when his name was announced, and again when he entered the match as a second-half substitute in Atletico's 2-2 LaLiga draw with Villarreal.
A section of the home crowd also chanted "Let him leave once and for all, let him leave." As the final whistle blew, Alvarez, 26, headed straight for the dressing room while his teammates acknowledged the fans, drawing further jeers.
Alvarez publicly expressed his desire to leave Atletico Madrid during the World Cup, stating his wish to "fulfil my dream" and that he believed a transfer was "the best thing for everyone." Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have been linked with the player.
Following the match, Atletico manager Diego Simeone stated that the decision for Alvarez to not greet the fans was made by the club. "The club staff told me that the club decided Julian should not go over with his teammates to greet the fans, and that it was not Julian's decision," Simeone said. He added that the team needs to be united to win titles and requires "important forwards."
Despite Alvarez's public statements, Atletico Madrid has maintained a firm stance that the player is not for sale. Club chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin previously indicated that the club would not consider offers, even those around £170 million. Alvarez has a release clause of £428 million, and Atletico has reportedly rejected a £129 million bid from Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid secured a point in the draw against Villarreal thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer from Giuliano Simeone, the manager's son. The team played with 10 men after Robin Le Normand was sent off in the 76th minute. Atletico Madrid currently sits third in LaLiga with four points from their first two matches and is scheduled to play table-toppers Sevilla next Saturday.