Metropolitano turns on Álvarez as whistles echo around the stadium

This is no longer just a difficult relationship between Julián Álvarez and Atlético Madrid supporters. It looked more like the stands publicly terminating it.

The Argentine returned to the squad against Villarreal and, before he had even kicked a ball, the Metropolitano made its feelings perfectly clear. When the stadium announcer read out his name, a huge chorus of whistles came raining down.

And that was only the beginning.

Álvarez was booed again when he went out to warm up. Then, as he prepared to enter the pitch in the second half, the reaction came once more. A player who not long ago was one of Atlético’s biggest stars effectively returned to his own stadium for a public referendum.

It is hardly a mystery where the anger comes from.

Álvarez has spent the summer heavily linked with Barcelona and has made little secret of his desire to leave Madrid. Atlético have repeatedly resisted his departure, while a section of the fanbase has interpreted the striker’s stance as an attempt to force through a move to a direct LaLiga rival.

A few days earlier, banners reading “Julián fuera” appeared around Atlético’s training complex, together with his No. 19 crossed out.

Well, Atlético managed to keep the player.

It seems they forgot to keep his relationship with the supporters.

Álvarez remains an Atlético player, Barcelona continue to hover over the entire saga and the transfer window is still open. After what happened at the Metropolitano, however, pretending everything can simply return to normal is becoming increasingly difficult.

A club can block a transfer.

Blocking tens of thousands of supporters who have clearly had enough is considerably harder.