Atletico president says Julian Alvarez can win back supporters in two games

[p]The Argentina international said this summer it would be best if he was allowed to leave, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] making bids for the forward, which [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] rejected.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Alvarez[/a] is not part of Diego Simeone's squad for their [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/malaga-25tIqYiJ/?mid=MX8chH9e"]LaLiga opener on Wednesday[/a] against promoted side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malaga/25tIqYiJ/"]Malaga[/a] as he builds fitness following post-World Cup holidays.[/p][p][b]"I don't know if he will say sorry, but Julian is an excellent person and I am absolutely sure that he will win over the fans in two games," [/b]Cerezo told reporters.[/p][embed guid="0b9017d2-9ae4-45a6-a838-e623c01281e1" url="https://x.com/atletienglish/status/2088644939806646643" social-type="twitter" /][p]Simeone said on Tuesday he was planning on building the team around the 26-year-old, who has also been linked with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a].[/p][p][b]"I said he wouldn't be sold, he's our player and an important part of our team,"[/b] added Cerezo ahead of the team's first game of the season.[/p][p][b]"We like that he's with us and think he will have a magnificent season."[/b][/p][p]Barcelona had hoped to replace [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Robert Lewandowski[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a] with Alvarez, with both forwards leaving this summer.[/p][p]Atletico fans were critical of French forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griezmann-antoine/OxCa1jdT/"]Antoine Griezmann[/a] for joining Barca in 2019 after he returned to the capital in 2021.[/p][p]However Griezmann's performances gradually won them back over, and he went on to become Atletico's all-time leading scorer before departing for MLS [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-city/rsHkUNCo/"]Orlando City[/a] at the end of last season.[/p]