Julián Alvarez's open wounds

The transfer window has closed, but it has not healed the damage left by Julián Alvarez's failed attempt to join Barcelona. The Argentine forward remains at Atlético Madrid and now faces the difficult task of rebuilding his relationship with the club, Diego Simeone, his teammates and the supporters at the Metropolitano.

Alvarez's own words have become a central part of the dispute. On June 22, in the mixed zone at the stadium in Dallas, he said, "The best thing for everyone is a transfer, I want to fulfill a dream." Atlético supporters responded with a loud whistle when he appeared at the Metropolitano during the second league match, against Villarreal. Some members of the club's fan base still believe the best outcome would have been a sale.

People in Atlético's leadership believe Alvarez can turn the situation around. The club has repeatedly blamed his agent, Fernando Hidalgo, accusing him of giving the player poor advice and helping produce the conflict. Atlético has also attributed leaks about Alvarez's dissatisfaction with Simeone's playing system, as well as the player's comments during the World Cup in Dallas, to the agent's efforts to reduce the transfer price.

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The best thing for everyone is a transfer, I want to fulfill a dream.

The club has additionally accused Barcelona of creating an unprecedented worldwide media campaign against Atlético. Club officials say they have never faced such a damaging attack on their reputation, including the alleged use of bots to portray Atlético as an oppressive club.

The immediate priority is Alvarez's state of mind and his ability to perform at the level demanded by Atlético and Simeone. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, the club's former majority shareholder and current chief executive, said last Thursday in Monaco, "He is really struggling." Alvarez missed group training from Wednesday to Friday the previous week because of an illness. Atlético's medical staff neither diagnosed depression nor considered a depression-related absence, while club employees said they saw a player overwhelmed by the situation and accumulated tension, but not suffering a depressive crisis. Gil Marín had the backing of Apollo, the U.S. investment fund that now owns most of Atlético's shares, throughout the blocked transfer process.

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He is really struggling.