Diego Simeone and Julián Álvarez met ahead of Atlético Madrid‘s training session on Wednesday to discuss the star forward’s situation, sources have told ESPN, in their first meeting since Álvarez revealed that he wants to leave the club this summer.
Álvarez revealed while on FIFA World Cup duty with Argentina that he had informed Atlético of his wish to “fulfil his dream” of a move during this window, with sources saying Barcelona was his preferred destination.
Barça president Joan Laporta subsequently confirmed that the club had bid for the player, but Atlético — led by CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marín — have insisted that Álvarez’s contract is not for sale, having also rejected an €150 million ($173m) offer from local rivals Real Madrid.
Sources close to Barcelona have told ESPN that Álvarez remains a priority for the club as they look to replace Robert Lewandowski.
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Álvarez returned to preseason training this week, and sources told ESPN that ahead of Wednesday’s session, coach Simeone and the player spoke for around 10 minutes in a room at Atlético’s Cerro del Espino training complex.
Álvarez felt it was important to discuss the situation face-to-face, sources said — with the forward concerned about the level of media speculation around his future — and repeated his desire to leave Atlético.
Simeone responded that a potential departure was a matter for club executives, and that in the meantime the coach was counting on him, with the furore not affecting Álvarez’s role and position in the team.
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“The situation is very clear,” Simeone said in a news conference last weekend. “The club took a decision which Miguel Ángel [Gil] explained well… We are very happy with Julián. From the sporting side of things, we will help him keep growing and improving, so that he can give us what he has given us over these two years.”
Álvarez was left feeling resigned to the situation after the meeting, sources close to the player said, having expected such a response from Simeone.
The relationship between the pair remains cordial despite reports to the contrary, sources said, although there have been some disagreements over Simeone’s tactics.
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Álvarez’s camp valued Simeone’s support for the forward last season, when he endured a 14-game goal drought.
On Wednesday, Simeone promised that there would be no problem with Álvarez as long as he remains at Atlético, and he would continue to treat him as a key player for the team, with transfer decisions being left to club executives.
Atlético view Wednesday’s meeting as positive and to be expected given what has happened this summer, club sources told ESPN, while continuing to insist that Álvarez will not join Barcelona.
