Just like that, everything was back to normal. Julian Alvarez came on in the second half of Atlético Madrid's match with Villarreal looking to help the Colchoneros to a victory.
Except, nothing was normal for the Argentine forward.
The fans that had cheered him last season all jeered, and rather than saluting them after, he let the rest of his teammates approach after a 2-2 draw and was ushered down a different tunnel.
Julián Alvarez after Atlético Madrid’s 2-2 draw 👀 pic.twitter.com/E3W3bTIqYp
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 23, 2026
Why?
It's all because of Alvarez's desire to move away from the club that brought the forward to Spain in 2024 as Barcelona continues to loom as a potential destination.
What did Julian Alvarez say about his future?
Alvarez selected what seemed like an odd time to break his silence about his club situation,
speaking with reporters in the mixed zone after World Cup group stage match. Even he said it may not be the time to speak about a move before doing just that.
“Well, I honestly don’t know, but I don’t think it’s the time to talk about this, but I can’t hide either or pretend,” Alvarez told reporters after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria. “I try to be an honest person, and I spoke with the people in the club who I had to speak with and I think the best thing for everyone is a transfer, and I want achieve my dream.”
Can FC Barcelona actually sign Julian Alvarez?
The issue is that Atlético Madrid don't want to sell the forward to any club, much less the current La Liga champion and a club viewed as a rival, especially after the teams' heated UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series in which Alvarez scored the first goal in the first leg of a 3-2 aggregate win.
There is a release clause in the player's contract; however, it is €500 million, a number set so high as to deter all but the most lucrative of offers.
Barcelona has been able to register players, with outgoing player moves and the reopening of much of the Camp Nou helping alleviate some of the financial pressure the team has been under in the past. But it certainly can't pay a fee that would more than double the amount of the most expensive transfer of all-time.
So, it has tried to negotiate, with Atleti not only rejecting the offers but going so far as to post memes on social media.
An Atleti source told Spanish newspaper Marca that there is no chance the club will sell the player, with another calling Atleti "the victim" of Barcelona stirring up the player and convincing him he should move on.
Alvarez was not present at Atletico training on Wednesday, Aug. 26 as the club prepares for a trip to Sevilla.
Are any other clubs interested in signing Julian Alvarez?
Reports had put Alvarez as an Arsenal target, which would've provided a somewhat graceful end to the saga.
Alvarez reportedly wasn't interested in a return to the Premier League, where he a pair of seasons with Manchester City, but reports from Madrid on Wednesday, Aug. 26 indicate that he and his agents are now open to a move to London.
Alvarez could move on, Atleti could refresh and, potentially, Barcelona could sign the player for less money in the future.
After the reception to the player this weekend, the situation seems untenable — meaning there will still be at least one more twist in the tale before the story comes to an end.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Julian Alvarez situation explained: Timeline of Argentine's Atletico Madrid drama
