Alvarez meets Simeone as Sorloth injury complicates his exit
Alexander Sorloth’s muscle injury and Diego Simeone’s return to training complicate Julian Alvarez’s hopes of a summer move to Barcelona.
Julian Alvarez faces a new obstacle in his bid to leave Atlético Madrid for Barcelona after the club learned that striker Alexander Sorloth will be sidelined by a muscle injury that keeps him out for the start of the season.
Squad balance shifts as Simeone returns to training
Diego Simeone rejoined Atlético's training sessions this Wednesday following a trip to Seoul, and before practice Alvarez had a private conversation with the coach in which he reiterated his wish to move on this summer.
The club now must weigh Alvarez's transfer request against the sudden unavailability of Sorloth, who—according to reports—has suffered a muscular problem that is expected to require four to five weeks of recovery. That timeframe rules out a realistic return to competitive action until around mid-September.
Alvarez has publicly expressed the desire to join Barcelona, but Atlético's squad management and immediate needs have become more complicated by Sorloth's absence just as preparations accelerate toward the Primera opener against Málaga.
After their talk ahead of training, Simeone told Alvarez that he understood the player's wishes but that the club would maintain its position, adding that he was available to assist the player from a sporting perspective. Club sources described the meeting as an informal conversation rather than a formal negotiation, suggesting developments will follow in the coming days.
With pre-season plans and the opening fixtures approaching, both the player and Atlético will now face a narrower window to resolve the situation before the season gets under way.
Photo: press material from the event
