While Diego Simeone praises him from a distance, Julian Álvarez he is in full training camp with the Argentina national team for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela (10 October, 11pm) and Bolivia (16 October, 2am). But at this point of the season, after 11 games played with the shirt ofAtletico Madridhow his new adventure is progressing in rojiblancos?
Unexpected twist
The summer was completely besieged by a flurry of rumors about the Argentine striker’s desire to leave Manchester City. Along the way, however, the rumors about the search for a new team that could guarantee him more space and attention found stable foundations and in the midst of the Copa America, albeit in a veiled manner, Julian had hinted that something was in motion. On the other hand, Haaland’s centralization at City left him in the absolute shadows. From here emerged Atletico Madrid, who having lost Morata and Depay in a single beat, decided to go all-in with the coup of the summer: precisely the Aranafor 75 million euros plus 10 million bonuses.
First numbers of the season
In a new team and under the guidance of Cholo Simeone, Julián Álvarez found himself catapulted into a reality that strongly wanted him, deciding to place him at the center of everything. And from the start of the season to today, after 11 matches played in La Liga and the Champions League, the Argentine has played 635 minutes, most of them as a starter. Just what City was missing. Of course, in terms of goals scored, there is work to be done, at the moment he has only scored 3 goals and no assists. But in less than two months he is already showing himself to be a leader in the middle of the pitch, without even discussing his unusual position as a left midfielder. Because Simeone’s philosophy is known and Atletico have to run and sweat to get back into defense.
Honey words
Diego Simeone himself committed himself to Julian and guaranteed an important future for him at the center of Atletico Madrid: “He is one of the players who has made me happiest since I have been here. He has won everything in Europe and with the national team. He came in for Lautaro Martinez and he did it in the best way possible. I think we all did a great job to make him understand that he can create a great story at Atletico Madrid, because he has all the conditions: humility, sacrifice, perseverance. and talent.”