According to Sport, Atletico Madrid has begun to worry that the question of Alvarez's departure or stay could escalate into a bigger problem, beyond just Barcelona's persistent pursuit.

As the first league match at home against Malaga draws nearer, Atletico Madrid's main concern is no longer just whether Barcelona will make another attempt to sign the forward. The real worry is whether this tug-of-war will affect the performance of the Argentine forward, who insists on leaving, and his relationship with his surroundings and the home fans.

Spain's Cadena SER mentioned this in the latest episode of "Carrusel Deportivo," focusing on issues that could impact Atletico Madrid's entire season. Publicly, Atletico Madrid remains firm on Alvarez's future, but privately, the club is clearly concerned that Alvarez, who publicly expressed his desire to leave Madrid and fulfill his dream of joining Barcelona during the World Cup, is still working towards that goal, even though he has returned to team training.

"Atletico Madrid's biggest concern right now isn't Barcelona. Atletico Madrid's biggest concern is how Alvarez will play this season, and whether all of this will weigh on him throughout the season, or how to help him turn this situation around. Atletico Madrid's real concern is whether this situation will affect Alvarez's performance," they said.

Firm Stance

Atletico Madrid has emphasized for weeks that they will not let Alvarez leave. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín even explicitly stated that Alvarez "wouldn't leave even for 20 billion," a statement that summarizes the management's position. Atletico Madrid sees the Argentine as a core pillar of the team's plans and considers no other possibility than his continued stay.

Simeone has also publicly stated that the sports management is aligned with the club's position on this matter. The Argentine coach is unable to decide on such a high-level matter, but if the player ultimately cannot leave, he will still have to deal with the consequences on the field. Furthermore, Simeone has privately told the forward that he can do little to change this uncomfortable situation for both parties.

The Schedule Won't Stop

The problem is that the schedule won't wait for this tug-of-war to end. Next Wednesday, Atletico Madrid will host Malaga in the first league match at the Wanda Metropolitano, and Simeone must decide how to use this player. Despite the ongoing turmoil, he remains one of the team's most important players.

When Atletico Madrid announces the squad for the first league match on the 19th, it will be clear whether the club, despite the continuously building tension and the player and his team's insistence on leaving, chooses to try to normalize the situation from day one. It will also be seen whether, if Alvarez is included in the squad, he will continue to play normally as he does in training, or if he will ultimately choose to refuse to play. Facing a crowd of fans, if he does play, he probably won't be greeted with flowers.

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