Julián Álvarez apologises to Atlético fans for World Cup remarks after winning goal

The apology

On Saturday, 24 October, Julián Álvarez scored the only goal in Atlético Madrid's 1-0 home win over Deportivo La Coruña, a matchday 10 fixture in LaLiga EA Sports played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Speaking to Movistar Plus after the match, the Argentine forward asked the club's supporters to forgive him for what he said during the 2026 World Cup, when he showed a wish to leave the club. He described his comments as a mistake, both in the way he made them and in the timing, and said he understood why fans were angry.

I wanted to apologise to our people for my words during the World Cup. They were a mistake, both in the way and the timing.

Alvarez added that he would have been angry too if he were a supporter, and he thanked the fans for their generosity over the years. He also thanked his teammates for backing him during a difficult period, saying he was feeling well and wanted to help the team give its best.

A summer of transfer speculation

The apology closes a long episode that began in the transfer market. Barcelona had shown public interest in the 26-year-old, and the saga led Atlético's board to announce in a statement that it would block any negotiation with the Catalan club over the player. The Italian outlet Fanpage reported that Álvarez had said during the World Cup that a transfer was the best solution for everyone, and that fans had whistled loudly each time he came onto the pitch earlier in the season. According to the same report, he left the field after the first matchday without stopping to greet the crowd at the final whistle.

Back on the scoresheet

Alvarez has found the net again, with two goals in his last two matches according to SAPO and ABC, the second of them the winner against Deportivo. El Mundo said the victory gave Atlético their sixth consecutive league win. ABC reported that the whistles during the team line-ups were much less forceful than in earlier matches, and that his name was chanted loudly at the Metropolitano after he put Atlético ahead. Speaking after the match, Álvarez said that family and being at home influence how a player performs, and that he felt well and prepared to compete for everything. El Mundo wrote that he also hinted at personal problems that had affected him on the pitch.

Simeone's reaction

Diego Simeone, speaking at the post-match press conference according to SAPO, said he valued the moment at which people apologise, because it is not easy. He described Álvarez as a humble, hard-working player who likes his teammates, and said the apology put the forward in the place that truly corresponds to him. La Razón reported that Simeone said he was not in a position to judge whether the remarks were right or wrong, and that the fans had celebrated the goal as they would one from their own side. The coach added that the club's objectives needed Álvarez, and that the forward had returned to the level he showed last season.