Diego Simeone says it was planned that Arsenal transfer target Julian Alvarez would not stand with his teammates to show appreciation to Atletico Madrid supporters after the full-time whistle on Sunday. The forward was jeered off the pitch by his own fans and had to be escorted down the tunnel by club staff after Atletico's 2-2 draw with Villarreal.
Alvarez's Future at Atletico Madrid
Alvarez has been heavily linked with a departure from Simeone's squad throughout the summer transfer window. The club turned down an approach from city rivals Real Madrid at the start of the window, before Barcelona made their intentions clear that they were keen to snap up the Argentine.
The former Manchester City star has made no secret of his desire to leave the club, publicly declaring his wish to join the reigning La Liga champions. However, Atletico have stood firm in their refusal to sell to their domestic rivals, leaving Alvarez increasingly frustrated.
Hostile Reception from Own Fans
Alvarez was named amongst the substitutes for the 2-2 draw with Villarreal, entering the fray in the second half to a chorus of boos from the home faithful. He played his part as ten-man Atletico fought back to salvage a point, yet was met with a hostile reception from his own supporters throughout his time on the pitch.
Alvarez was led down the tunnel by staff while his teammates went over to applaud the supporters at the final whistle. As he departed the pitch, Alvarez was once again subjected to jeers and whistles, casting further uncertainty over his future at the club.
Simeone's Response
Addressing the situation, Simeone said: "It was a club decision to not let Julian Alvarez go over with his teammates to greet the fans."
Ahead of the match, the Atletico manager said: "For me, Julian is an extremely important player for us to achieve our objectives. As long as he's with the team, I'm going to look after him."
Arsenal's Interest
Arsenal are believed to be strongly interested in securing the striker's services as they look to strengthen Mikel Arteta's squad. The Gunners are aiming to defend their Premier League title and go one step further by lifting the Champions League trophy.
Landing Alvarez would send out a powerful message of intent, and according to reports emerging from Spain, Arsenal could be the sole remaining route for the Argentine frontman should he wish to depart the club.
Alvarez's remarks about joining Barcelona have sparked a fierce backlash, with posters appearing around Atletico's training ground on Friday morning reading "JULIAN FUERA" ("JULIAN OUT") and featuring the striker's No. 19 crossed out.
