La Liga: Julián Álvarez apologises to Atlético Madrid supporters after his goal against Deportivo

Speaking to Movistar Plus at the Metropolitano on Saturday night, Julián Álvarez talked about the summer before talking about the match. “I wanted to apologise to our supporters for what I said during the World Cup,” he said, quoted by RMC Sport. “It was a mistake.” Then: “I completely understand the anger of the fans. I would have been angry too if I had been a supporter.”

A summer to forget

In the middle of the World Cup, the striker publicly announced his wish to leave Atlético for Barcelona. The board refused to sell and accused Barça of illegal approaches; Álvarez skipped training sessions. When the season resumed, his own supporters whistled and insulted him. Signed from Manchester City in 2024 for €75m, under contract until 2030, he stayed.

Six league wins in a row

On the pitch, the Argentine answered with his feet. In the 48th minute he cut inside at the back post to finish a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo: 1-0 against Deportivo La Coruña, his first La Liga goal of the season. Deportivo, without Aubameyang and winless since 5 September, held out for half the match.

It is Atlético’s sixth straight league win, and they sit second, provisionally four points clear of Real Madrid on the eve of the Clásico. Álvarez is building: the decisive goal at Espanyol last weekend (0-1), then a strike at Stuttgart in the Champions League in midweek (1-1).

Diego Simeone welcomed the gesture: “I really appreciate people who apologise, because it is not easy. Julian is a humble, hard-working man who cares about his teammates.” The coach put it more plainly: the club need Julián at his best.

Backed by his teammates, he said, and publicly defended by Simeone, Álvarez has closed his summer. Atlético head into the Clásico with a striker off the mark in the league.