Atletico Madrid coach Simeone to bench star Alvarez amid transfer standoff

[p]The 26-year-old, who cost [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] €75 million when he ‌arrived from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] in 2024, has made ‌no secret of his desire to move on.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Alvarez[/a] revealed at ‌the World Cup that he had spoken to ‌the club about a potential transfer to "fulfil my dream", with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] heavily linked in Spanish media reports.[/b][/p][p]Atletico CEO Miguel Angel ‌Gil Marin, however, said the club would ⁠not accept even €200 million for a major asset they wanted to keep.[/p][p][b]"Miguel Angel is ​the club's owner. Nothing is more definitive than the club's owner, it's crystal clear. It's ​like when a judge hands down a ruling: 'Dismissed,'" [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simeone-diego/AZ18LjKN/"]Simeone[/a] told reporters ahead of Wednesday's game.[/b][/p][p][b]"What he said is ⁠crystal clear. From ​a sports perspective, we want to look out for the person, the player, so he can continue to uphold his reputation.[/b][/p][p][b]"We don't see him playing in this game. ‌I hope that over the next four days, he'll be closer to where we want him to be."[/b][/p][image alt="Julian Alvarez's most recent season stats" id="87b62f2c-5f4c-4613-93a5-d39ee3234829" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="dc437f41-aad6-44e5-ac06-9d4c0ce1b786" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Alvarez has scored 49 goals in 106 matches for Atletico and Simeone is hoping he may play for their home game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/villarreal/lUatW5jE/"]Villarreal[/a] on Sunday.[/p][p][b]"I still feel the same way I did the other day in Korea (during Atletico's pre-season tour). I handle the sporting ‌side of things," Simeone added.[/b][/p][p][b]"We talked as we always ​do and I understand that, from a sporting ‌standpoint, he still needs to step it up a bit to be in top form for Sunday.[/b][/p][p][b]"He needs more practice. He's the best player we have and we're going to try to build a ⁠team around him, ⁠keeping his level in ‌mind."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/malaga-25tIqYiJ/?mid=MX8chH9e"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p]