Diego Simeone reaffirms Julian Alvarez's role at Atletico Madrid amid transfer talk

Diego Simeone emphasized Julian Alvarez's importance to Atletico Madrid during a press briefing ahead of their La Liga opener against Malaga on August 20. Despite rumors linking Alvarez to Barcelona, Simeone stated that the striker remains central to the team's plans. He confirmed having a productive conversation with Alvarez, recognizing the player's need for further training to reach full fitness. Simeone also referred to the club owner's firm stance on Alvarez's future, suggesting there is no doubt about the player's place in the squad as the season begins.

• 12:56 PMESPN Soccer — Simeone: Atlético's stance on Álvarez 'clear'
• 10:55 AMYahoo Sports — Diego Simeone opens up about conversation with Barcelona target Julian Alvarez: ‘I still stand by what I said’