A visibly frustrated Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone has responded to rumors regarding the potential departures of key players, particularly following speculation surrounding striker Julián Álvarez.
The 26-year-old Argentina international was questioned about reports linking him to Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea, especially after he scored twice in the team’s 5-2 Champions League triumph over Tottenham on Tuesday night.
Alvarez’s lack of a definitive denial regarding a possible transfer led some to speculate about his future, despite him emphasizing his satisfaction at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
With goalkeeper Jan Oblak and France forward Antoine Griezmann also having been tied to transfer rumors recently, Simeone addressed the situation at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga match against Getafe.
He remarked, “In our victory against Bruges, we celebrate Oblak’s incredible save; after the 4-0 win over Barcelona, the focus is on Griezmann’s potential exit; following our 5-2 triumph against Tottenham, the spotlight turns to Julián Álvarez.”
“I want to assure our supporters that we are in a good place. I stated that we will compete, and we will indeed compete.”
Heading into Saturday’s home game, Simeone’s squad stands strong after a dominant first leg win over Spurs, having secured five victories in their last six matches across all competitions.
However, the team trails city rivals Real Madrid by nine points in LaLiga, with league leaders Barcelona even further ahead by an additional four points.
Meanwhile, Getafe are in good form, achieving four wins in their last five league matches, positioning them ninth in the standings, though they haven’t secured victory at the Metropolitano since May 2010.