Julian Alvarez prepares to make Atletico Madrid return after "learning experience" over summer

By Matt Law | 04 Sep 2026 14:39, Last updated: 04 Sep 2026 14:40

Atletico Madrid caput manager Diego Simeone has revealed that Julian Alvarez volition beryllium backmost successful the squad for Saturday's La Liga contention with Athletic Bilbao.

It has been a turbulent fewer weeks for Alvarez, with the Argentina planetary pushing to permission Atletico during the summertime transportation window.

The 26-year-old had been determined to articulation Barcelona, portion Arsenal were besides linked with his services, but the transportation model closed with the guardant inactive astatine Atletico.

Alvarez missed 2 days of grooming past week and was past absent against Sevilla successful La Liga.

However, Simeone has confirmed that the Argentine volition beryllium backmost with Atletico for Saturday's league contention against Athletic astatine San Mames.

Alvarez to instrumentality to Atletico squad vs. Athletic

"Julian Alvarez volition beryllium successful the squad tomorrow. He's grooming well, and we expect the champion from him, conscionable arsenic we bash from each his teammates," Simeone told reporters during Friday's property conference.

"For me, beingness is afloat of opportunities. And Julian present has an opportunity. A batch of the time, we walk our lives judging, and we request to interest astir doing that little and learning more. I anticipation this has served arsenic a learning acquisition for him.

"I anticipation he's blessed and, arsenic [Paulo] Futre [Atletico Madrid's manager of football] told him yesterday successful a beauteous video... that helium shows it by scoring goals."

Arsenal transportation news: Atletico 'willing' to merchantability Alvarez to Premier League champions

Atletico outright refused to bash concern with Barcelona implicit the summer, but it is understood that they would person been consenting to merchantability to Arsenal for the close price.

Alvarez volition present beryllium with the Red and Whites until astatine slightest January, but it is simply a transportation saga that is apt to beryllium reignited successful 2027, with Barcelona inactive highly keen connected his services.

The attacker arrived astatine Atletico from Manchester City successful the summertime of 2024.

Alvarez has scored 49 goals and registered 17 assists successful 107 matches for Atletico successful each competitions, including 25 goals and 8 assists successful 67 La Liga matches for the Red and Whites.

The attacker's merchandise clause is €500m (£432m), portion helium has a declaration with the superior giants until the summertime of 2030.