Did Julián Álvarez make a mistake by signing for Atlético de Madrid? Only time will tell. For now, what seems clear is that his adventure with the colchoneros is not being the most pleasant of all.
After a 2024/25 season in which he left top numbers on an individual level —29 goals and eight assists in 57 matches—, but collectively the balance was a complete failure, taking a 'nadaplete', the 2025/26 season did not start in the best way either. Those of Cholo Simeone, began LaLiga with a defeat against RCD Espanyol (1-2).
Julián Álvarez's environment reveals frustration with his current situation at Atlético
After this new disappointment, the feeling is that the Argentine does not feel comfortable with what he is experiencing in his stage with the Indians. Faced with this, as recently explained by journalist Matías Palacios in El Chiringuito, Álvarez feels that "he has never been given the place he believes he deserves".
In the same vein, the aforementioned source assures that the Araña's environment is "resigned and hurt because last year he scored almost 30 goals, but they placed him as a left winger to chase full-backs or they changed him at halftime." Despite this, we must not forget that the '19' was selected as the best player of Atlético de Madrid last year.
"We were wrong to go play for Cholo's team"
However, the controversy does not end there. Palacios adds that from his inner circle they consider that leaving Manchester City to land in the rojiblanco team was a mistake: "Simeone cannot be blamed because he is not used to managing a world football star. So the fault is ours for taking him there. We were wrong to go play for Cholo's team," they pointed out.
These statements make it clear that, although the relationship is not broken, it could become more tense if the sporting results continue to be adverse. This would put several top teams in the world on alert, since although Atlético assures that Julián Álvarez is not for sale, an eventual decision by the player to leave the club next summer could generate important movements around his name.
Julián Álvarez: The great successor of Robert Lewandowski at Barça?
Now, in case the Argentine striker enters the summer market 2026/27, one of the teams with the most favoritism to try to get his services is FC Barcelona. The azulgrana board plans to hire a top-level '9' as Lewandowski's successor in 2026 and Álvarez would fit perfectly into their sports project:
- Technically privileged striker
- Good nose and scoring instinct: born killer
- Creative and with vision to develop play and associate with his teammates
- Versatile: can be center forward, second striker or winger
- Collaborator in defensive pressure
Beyond this, it is clear that in order for the azulgrana team to bet on hiring him next summer, they would have to make a considerable economic outlay for him. In addition to convincing an Atlético de Madrid surely little willing to strengthen a direct rival.