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Atletico's Friendly Sees Alvarez Absent Amid Barcelona Links
14 Aug
Summary
- Julian Alvarez excluded from Atletico's final pre-season friendly match.
- Transfer speculation links Alvarez to a move to Barcelona.
- Alvarez's absence is due to match fitness recovery post-World Cup.
Atletico Madrid is set to play their last pre-season friendly against Marseille. The French club is under new management with Bruno Génésio and has had a strong pre-season, winning five out of six matches. Marseille has also seen player transitions with departures.
Atletico Madrid's pre-season results have been varied, with their most recent match ending in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. A significant talking point ahead of today's friendly is the absence of forward Julian Alvarez from Diego Simeone's squad.
This absence has intensified rumors linking the Argentine star to a move to reigning champions Barcelona. Both the player and the Catalan club reportedly believe a transfer is feasible, although Atletico is said to be reluctant to sell.
However, Alvarez's omission is not directly tied to transfer speculation. He, along with Álex Baena, Marcos Llorente, and Juan Musso, are being rested to regain full match fitness after the World Cup. Alvarez is anticipated to be fit for Atletico's La Liga season opener against Malaga on August 19.
