Atletico Madrid leave out Julian Alvarez amid Arsenal transfer links
Atletico Madrid have left Julian Alvarez out of their squad for the La Liga season opener against Malaga amidst mounting speculation over a potential transfer to Arsenal or Barcelona.
Manager Diego Simeone claims the Argentine forward requires more training time following an extended summer break.
However, his complete omission from the matchday squad has only intensified rumours regarding a permanent departure from the Spanish capital.
The former Manchester City striker has reportedly expressed a desire to leave the club before the summer transfer window closes.
Simeone insists attacker remains a key figure
Barcelona is understood to be the preferred destination for the prolific goalscorer, although Premier League runners-up Arsenal are also monitoring the situation closely.
Despite the swirling speculation, Atletico’s hierarchy have consistently fought to retain their marquee forward.
Simeone recently held face-to-face talks with the South American to discuss his integration into the first-team setup.
“From a sporting perspective, we need more training sessions with him so he can improve.”
“He’s the best player we have in attack, I’ve said that and I still think that. I want to build a team around him.”
International break explanation draws scrutiny
The club’s official stance attributes the player’s absence to his participation in recent international finals, which delayed his return to pre-season training.
Yet that explanation has drawn scrutiny from local media and disgruntled supporters alike.
Spanish duo Marcos Llorente and Alex Baena were both named on the substitutes’ bench for the Malaga fixture despite having similar periods of extended leave.
Addressing the inevitable comparisons to past departures involving Diego Costa and Antoine Griezmann, Simeone stated he remains respectful of public opinion during these unsettled periods.