Atlético de Madrid talisman Julián Alvarez has made his feelings abundantly clear: he wishes to leave the Metropolitano.
After Argentina’s victory over Austria at the World Cup in July, the Albiceleste striker said he hoped to “fulfill my dream” of joining Atleti’s Spanish rivals, Barcelona. Since then, Los Rojiblancos have dug their heels in, refusing to sell their star player to one of their biggest rivals, something which resulted in the 26-year-old missing training before the summer transfer window
slammed. Reports of dubious veracity cited “depression.”
Diego Simeone’s side have powered on without their hitman. They headed to Sevilla on August 29th for their third game of the new season and delivered a spectacular performance. Attacking midfielders Álex Baena and Lee Kang-in started up front, and the unlikely duo combined to devastating effect as the former netted a brace with the latter providing an assist for the first in a resounding 3-1 win.
The result was that Atletico claimed top spot in La Liga, maintaining their unbeaten start to the new campaign and prompting online betting sites to continue to consider them as fringe contenders to claim the title for the first time in six years.
The latest soccer betting at Bovada odds currently position Atleti as a 12/1 shot to be crowned champions next May, well behind the heavyweight duo of Real Madrid and defending champions Barcelona and, but also well clear of the chasing pack headed by Athletic Bilbao at 80/1.
Despite their impressive start to the campaign, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Simeone’s side will have to embark upon its quest in 2026/27 without Alvarez, who appears increasingly adamant that he wishes to leave in the near future. For Atleti supporters, the ongoing situation is far from ideal.
However, one look at the history books tells us that losing their superstar striker could actually be a strangely good omen as opposed to a disaster.
Radamel Falcao departs and Atlético become champions
During the 2012/13 season, Radamel Falcao became arguably the finest striker on the planet, and he did so in Atlético Madrid colors. He fired a mighty 34 goals that season in addition to the 36 he netted the year before.
However, when a newly flush-with-cash AS Monaco offered €60m to secure his services in the summer of 2013, Atleti had no choice but to accept, and their Colombian hotshot departed for Monte Carlo.
Initially, this appeared to be a nightmare for Simeone. But El Cholo — whose managerial tenure was still in its infancy – didn’t panic.
He snapped up veteran striker David Villa from Barcelona for just €5.1m, partnering the two-time European Champion and 2010 World Cup winner with powerhouse Diego Costa to form one of La Liga’s deadliest duos. Behind them, a cast of workhorses led by captain Gabi, youngster Koke, and staunch defenders Diego Godín and João Miranda ensured that Los Rojiblancos were in safe hands, but no one could have truly expected what was to come.
Without Falcao in the squad, Atleti proceeded to take La Liga by storm in 2013/14, winning 16 of their opening 18 games, including a 1-0 win away at cross-city rivals Real thanks to Costa’s first-half winner. Despite a shock loss to Levante and a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Malaga, Simeone’s side knew that if they could avoid defeat away at Barcelona on the final day of the season in the cauldron-like Camp Nou, they would be crowned champions of Spain for the first time in 18 years.
In the end, they succeeded. Godín’s second-half equalizer was enough to secure a 1-1 draw in Catalonia and seal the title, Atleti finishing three points clear of both Barca and Real. Not only that, but they came within two minutes of claiming the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever, only for Sergio Ramos to nod home a last-gasp equalizer for Real in the final in Lisbon before Los Blancos took over in extra time.
Still, all of that was achieved without their superstar striker of the previous two seasons, Falcao — a good omen for the upcoming campaign should Alvarez be otherwise absent.
Antoine Griezmann leaves and Atleti emerge stronger from the wreckage
Five years later, Atleti found themselves in a similar position once more. This time around, it was hero Antoine Griezmann who departed, leaving for rivals Barcelona in the summer of 2019 for a whopping €120m.
Unlike in 2013/14, success wouldn’t come immediately. But within two years of the French striker’s departure, Los Rojiblancos were surprisingly champions once again.
Atlético spent the vast majority of the money it received for Griezmann on teenage prodigy João Félix, but it was the arrival of another veteran striker 12 months after Grizou departed that transformed Atleti’s fortunes. That, of course, was Luis Suárez, who was brought to the Metropolitano for just €7m in the summer of 2020 after new Barça boss Ronald Koeman forced him out of Catalonia. The Blaugrana’s loss again would be Atletico’s gain.
Suárez netted 21 league goals in his maiden season wearing red and white, helping his new club to the top spot in the table heading into the final round of fixtures. They knew that victory at Real Valladolid on the final day of the season would secure the title, and despite falling behind early, they would ultimately get the job done, winning 2-1 with Suárez grabbing the winner.
All of it came off the back of selling the club’s only true superstar at the time.
Whether the club bows to the pressure and allows Alvarez to join Barça or whether the likes of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain – two other sides known to be interested in the Argentine – can convince the 26-year-old to join them remains to be seen.
But history suggests that the club will figure it out either way, and ultimately come out stronger whenever the saga ends.
