Atlético de Madrid will not be able to count on Julián Álvarez for their competition opener. The Argentine forward’s absence for the clash against Málaga was officially confirmed by Diego Pablo Simeone during the pre-match press conference.
The Rojiblanco coach explained that the decision is based strictly on fitness and preparation criteria. He believes the team’s star still needs more work on the pitch to reach the optimal rhythm required for competition.
Despite ruling him out of the squad, the coach once again made clear the striker’s central role in his setup. “We still believe in the idea of building a team around him,” Simeone said, reaffirming the player’s strategic importance.
The dressing room is looking to protect the player in every respect to avoid unnecessary risks. In this regard, Cholo was blunt about his current condition: “We take care of the person and the player; we understand that for this match he is not in the right condition to play.”
On a personal level, the coach highlighted the great relationship he has with the forward, whom he described as an “extraordinary lad”. The manager also backed the firm stance of the club’s hierarchy, putting any debate to rest by saying that “if the owner of the club spoke bluntly, I don’t think there’s anything more to add.”
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
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