The Argentine striker underwent medical tests on Monday, but the decisive meeting with Atlético's coach has been postponed as Simeone extended his break after the Asian tour. Barcelona is closely monitoring the situation.
Julián Álvarez, Atlético Madrid's Argentine striker, underwent mandatory medical tests at a private clinic in Madrid on Monday, officially marking his return to the club. However, the conversation he had planned with coach Diego Pablo Simeone about his future will have to wait at least until Wednesday.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Simeone extended his break for a few days after Atlético's friendly match in South Korea and will not return to the Spanish capital before midweek. This meeting is of utmost importance to Álvarez, as he wants to hear Simeone's stance before making a final decision about his career.
Álvarez underwent medical tests directly at a private clinic, following the club's usual protocol, and has not yet set foot on the pitch at Atlético's sports complex. He now awaits the return of his teammates, but all focus remains on the conversation with Simeone, which he considers crucial.
There have been no developments at the club. Senior officials confirmed to Sport that Álvarez remains a player they do not intend to sell and that they are not currently considering negotiations for his departure, despite interest from Barcelona and other European clubs in recent months.
The player himself believes he reached a tacit agreement with Atlético, under which the club would be willing to listen to offers after the end of last season. Álvarez sees this as part of what the two parties agreed upon and now wants to personally remind CEO Gil Marín of that agreement. Atlético, however, interprets the situation completely differently and currently has no desire to facilitate his exit, especially towards Barcelona.
Álvarez's desire to wear Barcelona's jersey has not changed. He intends to make this clear once again to Atlético's management, hoping the club will at least agree to sit down at the negotiating table. He does not want to cause a crisis or force a split, but he does not intend to hide his priority if he manages to leave Madrid on good terms.
Barcelona is cautiously monitoring developments from the sidelines. The Catalan club has already expressed serious interest and is aware that any progress now depends solely on whether Atlético softens its stance. If the door to negotiations opens, which currently seems unlikely, Barcelona is ready to try with a new official offer.
