Koke slams media over treatment of Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez
Atletico Madrid captain Koke has publicly defended Julian Alvarez, calling on the media to stop the constant speculation surrounding the forward.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: AnatolyPm
Following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid captain Koke has demanded that the media stop targeting Julian Alvarez. The Argentine forward played his first full 90 minutes of the season during the encounter, providing the assist for Marcos Llorente to score.
We're tired of it. We have to leave the boy alone, to let him enjoy himself, to let him do his job and play football. Between all of us, we have to leave him in peace, because it's been a really tiresome summer from the media. Let's hope he can be left in peace to do his job. Koke
Alvarez faced significant scrutiny during the summer after pushing for a move to Barcelona, a situation that left many fans frustrated. Despite the tension, teammate Marcos Llorente insisted that the dressing room remains fully supportive of the forward.
He's a very important player for us. He gave me a marvellous assist. That's what we need. We need him to be right, to be sharp, because he's been a long time without competing. We're with Julian, he's our player, a teammate. Marcos Llorente
As Atletico returns to domestic duty, they are preparing for their next La Liga match against Real Sociedad. Currently sitting sixth in the standings, the club is looking for stability, with Alvarez hoping to maintain his place in the starting XI and put the recent transfer distractions behind him.