Atlético CEO rules out Julián Álvarez exit: ‘We need him’ | OneFootball

There is less and less time left until the close of the transfer window in Europe (LaLiga has its deadline on September 1), and Julián Álvarez’s future remains one of the biggest ongoing sagas. Despite the player’s desire to leave, Atlético de Madrid keep insisting that they are counting on him for this season. And this Friday, the club’s CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, once again insisted that they will try to “help” La Araña so that he can give them “his full potential”.

“Atlético de Madrid, like all big clubs, is built with great players, and I am clear that Julián is one of them, as well as a great professional. We must compete with our values, with people from the club and with the best players from outside that we can bring in,” Gil Marín said in comments to EFE.

“We are going to help Julián and we are going to keep supporting him so that he can give us his full potential, because we need him to keep competing among Europe’s biggest clubs. We must understand that Julián has not had the best advisers close to him regarding his professional career in recent months,” he added.

And he added: “We cannot allow other clubs and their friendly media outlets to decide what we have to do, set our sporting strategy, and disrespect us”.

“That is precisely what they are looking for: to divide us. It is clear that we are not as powerful as they are, but we have values. Atlético supporters are not going to allow ourselves to be poisoned. Atleti is strong when we are all together,” the Atleti CEO concluded.

Atlético de Madrid have already stated on several occasions that their striker is not for sale, and each time they referred to the fact that he would only leave for his €500 million release clause, despite Julián’s desire to leave, which he made public during the 2026 World Cup.

In recent hours, some media outlets have reported Arsenal’s interest in signing the 26-year-old forward, but Atlético insist on Julián staying with the team, with whom he is under contract until June 2030.

The agent’s reaction

Shortly after these statements were made public, Fernando Hidalgo, the striker’s agent, posted a story on his Instagram. “Never ask a liar why he lied. To explain it, he will have to lie again.” It was interpreted as a response to one of Gil Marín’s remarks: “Julián has not had the best advisers close to him regarding his professional career in recent months.”

Fernando Hidalgo’s post, Julián Álvarez’s agent.

Fans’ anger toward Julián

On Thursday morning, at the entrance to the club’s training ground, a striking banner against the 26-year-old forward appeared, as he continues to show signs of wanting to leave two months after saying “the best thing for everyone is a transfer”.

The banner that drew the most attention read: “Julián, thanks for the respect you’re showing us, idiot.Barça and your inner circle have fooled you like a spoiled child for not acting like a man. Now get to work for two hours a week. Our Atleti above all else.”

Other signs against the striker were added to this banner. Around the training ground, posters appeared with the number 19, the forward’s number, crossed out, as well as banners with the phrase “Julián out”.

Despite the unusual and tense situation he is experiencing at the club, where last Wednesday he was insulted by several fans at the Metropolitano Stadium, the striker continues training under Diego Simeone.

As could be seen on Friday morning, the Argentina national team attacker did running drills alongside Giuliano Simeone and other Colchonero players. This, while they prepare for this Sunday’s match against Villarreal in the second round of LaLiga.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.