Atletico Madrid Fans Target Alvarez in 2-0 Win Against Malaga

Alvarez left out as Atletico fans turn on wantaway striker

The scoreboard said routine. The atmosphere did not.

Atletico Madrid eased past Malaga 2-0 at the Metropolitano, a controlled, almost comfortable win for Diego Simeone’s side. But the loudest noise in the stadium was reserved for a player who never even stepped onto the pitch.

Alvarez was nowhere in the matchday squad. No warm-up. No glimpse on the bench. Just his name echoing around the stands, wrapped in whistles and anger.

A section of the home support targeted the Argentine forward throughout the game, their chants cutting through the usual league fixture hum. The frustration has been simmering since the World Cup, when Alvarez made his position brutally clear: he wanted out and publicly requested a transfer away from the club.

The fans have not forgiven. Or forgotten.

So when Simeone walked into his post-match press conference, the questions about Alvarez arrived almost before he sat down. The Atletico coach did not flinch, and his answer sounded like a nod towards the crowd rather than the absent striker.

"I have great respect for our people," Simeone said. "We are open – as we always say – to specific possibilities. You know this after 15 years, I always say that until the window closes, I am open to anything that might happen. That doesn't mean I'm talking about any specific individual, is that clear?"

It was a familiar Simeone stance on the market: doors open, no guarantees, no promises. But in the context of Alvarez’s situation, the message felt sharp. The coach is not shielding his wantaway forward from the backlash.

Uncertainty hangs over Alvarez’s immediate future, yet Simeone sounded anything but anxious about the club’s wider plans. He leaned instead on a theme he has repeated across his reign – the strength of the group, the backing from upstairs, the need to arm himself properly before the deadline slams shut.

"Right, I’ve always said this, and not just now," he continued. "We always aim to secure the best possible tools, just as we’ve always had. And, well, let’s hope we can assemble the best possible squad between now and the deadline."

The message was clear: Atletico will shape the squad on their terms, with or without Alvarez.

Behind the scenes, though, the club faces a delicate few days. The transfer window clock is ticking, the tension between player and supporters is out in the open, and a decision cannot be kicked much further down the road. Either Alvarez is reintegrated into a fanbase that has already turned on him, or he becomes the high-profile exit that defines Atletico’s summer.

All this plays out while the season refuses to wait. Simeone’s team now pivot quickly towards their next league test, a home clash with Villarreal on Sunday.

The football looks under control. The dressing room building continues. The only real question is whether Alvarez will still be part of that picture when the window finally shuts.