Julián Álvarez has been named in the Atlético de Madrid squad for the La Liga match against Athletic Club at San Mamés. Manager Diego Simeone confirmed the news in a press conference on Friday, ending a week of uncertainty following the closure of the European transfer window. According to Clarín Deportes, the Argentine forward, who tried to force a move to Barcelona, must now rebuild his image at the Colchonero club.
Simeone was clear about the player's situation. "He is training very well. Tomorrow he will be called up, he will be part of the group that will travel to play in Bilbao." the coach stated. El Cholo added a deeper reflection: "I want to be very clear." The Argentine, who has scored 49 goals in 107 appearances for Atlético, has played only 33 minutes this season.
How has Julián Álvarez reached this point?
His preseason began on August 10, after his involvement in the 2026 World Cup. Álvarez trained alone the following day and his preparation has been mixed. He follows a collective and individualized plan at the Majadahonda Sports Center, with additional specific work under fitness coach Luis Piñedo after each group session. His start to the campaign was rocky: he missed the match against Málaga due to lack of match fitness, was booed by some of the crowd during his 33 minutes against Villarreal, and missed the Sevilla game due to an indisposition that kept him from training for three days. Since last Sunday, he has been training normally with the group.
What is Atlético de Madrid's current context?
Simeone's team faces the match in Bilbao sitting third in La Liga, with seven points from two wins and a draw. They have scored seven goals and conceded three, giving them a +4 goal difference. They are two points behind leaders Barcelona, and their next domestic fixture is on Sunday, September 12th against Real Sociedad. Before that, on Wednesday the 9th, they travel to Liverpool for their Champions League group stage opener. Forward Alexander Sørloth is the only key player currently sidelined, according to the club's injuries list.
What is the team's immediate schedule?
The September schedule is intense. After this Saturday's match in Bilbao, Atlético faces three key fixtures in seven days. On Wednesday the 9th they visit Anfield to face Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. On Sunday the 12th they play at Anoeta against Real Sociedad, and on Wednesday the 16th they host Osasuna at the Metropolitano in the Copa del Rey. Fans can check the full fixture order on the fixtures page.
What is now expected from Álvarez?
Simeone expects the forward from Calchín to resolve his internal situations to show himself happy and perform at his best. "The team wants Julián to be well, content, and to score goals," the manager stated. The first opportunity for this reintegration is the match at San Mamés. With Sørloth out, the need for goals in attack is clear. The team's performance, which can be tracked in the stats, will partly depend on Álvarez rediscovering his best form. Atlético de Madrid's next home match is on September 16th against Osasuna.
