Julián Álvarez

Julián Álvarez apologised to Atlético Madrid supporters after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruña at the Metropolitano [5]. The apology was for remarks he made during the 2026 World Cup, when he said he wanted to leave the club [5]. Those comments left open a move to Barcelona, and that interest reportedly remains [6].

He said he had been wrong about both how and when he spoke [6].

Álvarez is an Argentine forward who plays for Atlético Madrid and for the national team [1]. He was born on 31 January 2000 in Calchín, a town of about 2,500 people in Córdoba province [3]. VAVEL describes him as 1.70 m tall, right-footed, quick over the first few yards and cool in front of goal [3]. His nicknames include “La Araña” and “La Bestia de Calchín” [3].

From Calchín to River Plate

He began at Club Atlético Calchín [3]. At 11 he went on trial at Real Madrid, but the club could not sign players under 13, so he could not stay [3]. River Plate took him into its youth set-up in late 2015, when he was 15 [3]. In 2017 he was top scorer at the Generation Adidas Cup with nine goals, two of them in the final [3].

He made his league debut for River on 27 October 2018 [3]. Later that season he came on in extra time of the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors [3]. He played for River from 2017 to 2022 according to Atlético's squad profile [1]. In 2021 he finished as the Argentine league's top scorer with 18 goals, and he was named South American Footballer of the Year [3]. By the time he left, VAVEL counts 122 games for River, with 54 goals and 33 assists [3].

Manchester City and the treble

Manchester City signed him on 31 January 2022 [3]. VAVEL gives the fee as around $24 million [3]. He was part of the 2022-23 treble, when City won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League [3]. City won the Premier League again in 2023-24, and Atlético's profile lists his City spell as 2022 to 2024 [3] [1].

In a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, which City won 4-0, he scored and became the youngest Argentine to score at that stage, aged 23 [3]. VAVEL counts 103 appearances and 36 goals for him at City [3].

Argentina and the 2022 World Cup

He made his senior debut for Argentina on 3 June 2021, against Chile [3]. He won the 2022 World Cup and scored four goals at the tournament: one against Poland, one against Australia and two in the semi-final against Croatia [3]. Argentina also won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima [3]. At the 2024 Copa América he played five games and scored twice [3].

The move to Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid announced his signing in August 2024 [2]. The club did not disclose the fee. beIN SPORTS, citing The Athletic, put it at about €75 million fixed plus €20 million in variables [2]. VAVEL gives the same figures [3]. The two outlets differ on the length of the deal: beIN SPORTS reports six seasons to 30 June 2030 [2], while VAVEL says five years [3].

In his first season at the club, 2024-25, VAVEL records 29 goals and nine assists in 57 games [3]. In 2025-26 he scored 20 goals in 49 games, and he became the first Atlético player to score 10 goals in a single Champions League season [3]. VAVEL counts 106 games and 49 goals for the club so far [3]. The club's squad page lists him as number 19 [1].

Stuttgart and the equaliser

On 20 October 2026, at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Jamie Leweling gave the home side the lead in the 36th minute [4]. Álvarez equalised in the 47th minute, and the Champions League match finished 1-1 [4].

Morten Hjulmand was sent off in the 65th minute, leaving Atlético with ten men [4].

The apology and what comes next

The club does not intend to help him leave. El Intransigente reports that Atlético considers him an important part of its project [6]. His contract carries a €500 million release clause, and the same article says staying at the club is the most likely outcome for 2027 [6].