Julian Alvarez has unequivocally told Atletico Madrid that he must leave at all costs after a spectacular fallout between himself and the Spanish club. A report from Leo Paradizo now indicates the relationship is absolutely unsalvageable, as the Argentine striker feels utterly disrespected by how the club conducted itself in the crucial 48 hours before Sunday's World Cup final.
A show-stopping event where he should be focused on helping Argentina claim back-to-back world titles over Spain, but his camp is engaged in a full blown, ugly war with the Metropolitano hierarchy.
The former River Plate hitman has apparently been led down by Atletico and there has been a complete breakdown in communications after what his people believe was bad faith from Los Colchoneros.
The pre-season boycott threat
This has resulted in Alvarez ready and willing to do the unthinkable. That is, to go on strike and refuse to attend pre-season training with Diego Simeone.
The breakdown: Alvarez feels betrayed by the club's poor decision-making in the 48 hours before what is likely to be the most important football match of his career.
The Ultimatum: Julian Alvarez wants out now. If the club does not start facilitating a move then expect Alvarez to actively refuse to link up with his new club for pre-season.
The suitors
This mess puts rivals on extremely high alert and you can expect FC Barcelona, who has been aggressively pursuing Alvarez for months, to step in and take advantage of the chaos.
Atletico Madrid now has an on-hand crisis on Sunday night, once the final whistle sounds, Atletico will have a very serious decision to make about the immediate future of their club. Holding a star striker who is ready and willing to publicly detonate and tank his own transfer value at a moments notice will never be a good look, especially with the pressure on to avoid any further on-field collapses.
For Simeone, squad harmony and an unwavering commitment to the badge is of the upmost importance and this will never sit well. Julian Alvarez is making no bones about it: He is done with the Atletico Madrid project, and it looks like a race between interested clubs now to get their hands on the now-unhappy star.
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