Simeone ready to offload Julian Alvarez
Diego Simeone is prepared to sell Julian Alvarez after the striker made it clear he wants to join Barcelona this summer.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Alexdevil
The relationship between Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone and striker Julian Alvarez has reached a breaking point. Known for demanding absolute loyalty, Simeone has reportedly lost patience following the player's public push for a move to rivals Barcelona.
According to reports from SPORT, the atmosphere at the Metropolitano has soured, and Simeone now views the sale of the World Cup winner as the only way to maintain dressing room harmony. The manager is unwilling to force a player to remain when their heart is clearly set on a future elsewhere.
Barcelona sporting director Deco has long admired the former Manchester City forward and considers him a priority target to bolster the Blaugrana's attack. While the player has been careful with his public comments, his desire to join the Catalan giants is an open secret within the club.
Despite the strained relationship, Atletico is not expected to make the transfer straightforward. Sporting operations chief Mateu Alemany would prefer to sell the Argentine to an overseas club to avoid strengthening a direct domestic rival. High financial demands from Madrid remain a significant hurdle for Joan Laporta’s board.
The situation is now past reconciliation, with Simeone pushing for a swift resolution to avoid distractions during pre-season preparations. With Alvarez being excluded from recent promotional materials, it appears his time in the Spanish capital is drawing to an inevitable close.