The current situation of Julián Álvarez at Atlético de Madrid has set off alarm bells. After arriving as the club’s star signing, the Argentine striker has yet to show his best form, and rumors are growing about his discomfort in Diego Simeone’s system. His missed penalty against Rayo Vallecano, which could have changed the course of the match, along with his visible frustration when being substituted, highlight a delicate moment in his spell with Los Colchoneros.

Criticism from Argentina

The first to voice what many had suspected was Hugo Rafael Varas, the coach who discovered Álvarez in his early days. In an interview with Super Deportivo Radio, Varas stated that the forward is not being played in his natural position, and that directly affects his performance. “I don’t see him comfortable with Simeone. He has never played in the position he should, Atlético defends a lot and attacks little. That makes it difficult for Julián to be the goalscorer he was at River,” he assured.

The coach even recalled situations where he saw Álvarez defending almost inside his own box, something he considers a waste for a striker of his caliber. He also hinted that a change could come in the future, whether of coach or club, even suggesting that teams like Barcelona or Real Madrid would be natural destinations. “He was always a Barça fan, although I’d like to see him at Madrid,” he revealed.

Simeone backs him, but demands more

For his part, Diego Simeone responded to the criticism by defending his player, though with a clear message: the team needs the best version of Julián Álvarez. “He’s the best footballer we have, and we need him. We hope he finds the most important thing for a striker — goals — and that the team helps him create those situations,” the coach explained after the match against Rayo.

The Argentine manager stressed that the decision to substitute him was based on the demands of the game but admitted that the striker is going through a transition after his injury. With just one goal in six matches, the former Manchester City player is far from the expectations that accompanied his arrival in Madrid.

The immediate future of Julián Álvarez will depend on his ability to rediscover his scoring touch and adapt to Simeone’s tactical demands. In the meantime, doubts continue to grow, and speculation about a possible change of course refuses to fade away.