A Tense Start at Atlético

Atlético de Madrid’s season has not started smoothly, and Julián Álvarez found himself in the middle of a controversy after the draw against Mallorca. Cameras captured the striker muttering something on the bench after being substituted, which many interpreted as a complaint toward Diego Simeone: “always me.” On top of that, Álvarez had missed a penalty and squandered another big chance, adding to a frustrating run of just one goal in his first six matches.

The tension grew because the supposed protest coincided with a recent knee issue. Simeone had already warned that Álvarez was not yet at 100% and would be managed carefully, with key matches ahead against Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid.

Julián Clears the Air

After his brilliant performance against Rayo —where he scored a decisive hat-trick— Álvarez spoke to DSports to put an end to the speculation:
“What they said, the lip reading they did, had nothing to do with what I said. I said something else, a curse word, and I was mad at myself. But well, this always happens on social media,” the Argentine explained.

By clarifying the incident, Álvarez denied any conflict with Simeone and made it clear his frustration was personal, not directed at the coach.

Relief for Simeone and the Squad

Álvarez’s words came at the perfect time. With the team under pressure and results still inconsistent, external noise could have made things worse. Instead, his performance and his explanation cooled down the tension and reaffirmed his importance in Simeone’s project.

Now, with Julián’s goals and the squad’s commitment, Atlético will look to regain consistency in LaLiga and move past a rocky start marked by uncertainty.