Simeone: I will not accept insulting Alvarez, and this is his stance on the Villarreal match | Goal.com

Veröffentlicht am 22 Aug 2026 | Lesezeit: 2 Minuten

Diego Simeone has confirmed that Julian Alvarez remains central to his plans at Atletico Madrid.

The Argentine spoke to the media ahead of Los Rojiblancos' eagerly awaited La Liga clash with Villarreal.

According to the Spanish newspaper "Marca", Simeone addressed the striker's situation directly: "First, I want to complete the sentence I said in the last press conference, in which I stated that I respect the fans. This respect is absolute, and it always has been, but of course I do not share in or accept insults or offences. Let this be clear, because any word at this time when they are waiting to create this division in general, and to create conflict and doubts, could cause that."

He added: "The doubts about Alvarez's situation do not exist, and Miguel Angel spoke clearly. For me, he is a very important player for achieving the objectives on the sporting level. We will be with him and we will take care of him from the sporting side. Why? Because he is our player, and as long as he is at Atletico, I will look after him and protect him."

On the squad for tomorrow's match, the Atletico boss confirmed: "Yes, Alvarez will be included in the squad for tomorrow's match, and he is in a better position in terms of readiness and preparation. Tomorrow we will try to manage the match, which will be difficult against a big opponent. We are still in the phase of managing minutes and physical effort, whereas the rival teams do not suffer from this problem."

Fitness across the squad remains a worry for Simeone. "It still worries me, and I would have liked to be able to have everyone available so I could choose who can play. I have to think about the physical and emotional aspect, and how the players will respond given the periods they spent on their holidays. Not to mention the situation of Koke, who has only just started. We have work that requires creativity in seeking to make the team compete well. We maintain a clear vision that when we are together we become a complex and difficult team."

Asked about Alvarez's state of mind, the Argentine replied: "It is difficult for any individual to determine how someone else feels, because I am not that person. What I see is that he is working in the best possible way, and training with his team-mates with great respect for everyone. I have no doubt about the path we have decided to take with the club, which is to build a big team, as that is our goal. The important thing must be the Villarreal match and not any other matter, and that is what I am focused on."You can discuss the topics and news in more depth in the Kooora forums

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