Atlético Madrid’s difficult start to the season deepened with a 3–0 defeat to Athletic Club at San Mamés, while Julián Álvarez’s strained relationship with the club’s supporters became even more difficult to ignore.
Álvarez came on in the 58th minute with Atlético already two goals behind, but he was unable to change the match. Nico Williams and Robert Navarro scored within the opening three minutes of the second half, before Oihan Sancet added a late third to complete a dominant victory for Athletic.
The Argentine was again met by boos from sections of the Atlético support. He had already faced jeers during the previous home match against Villarreal, when he began on the bench before entering as a 66th-minute substitute. Giuliano Simeone rescued a 2–2 draw with a late counterattack goal, but Álvarez’s decision to go directly down the tunnel after the final whistle intensified the tension.
The hostility stems from Álvarez’s desire to leave Atlético. Barcelona made him their main target during the summer transfer window, while Arsenal were also linked with a potential move. Atlético ultimately refused to sanction his departure, leaving the forward in Madrid after the transfer window closed.
Álvarez’s situation has become particularly sensitive because of comments in which he expressed a desire to leave in order to fulfil a personal dream. Those remarks damaged his relationship with supporters, who now question his commitment to the club.
The problem is not limited to the stands. Álvarez has appeared in only one league match from the start this season and has mainly been used from the bench. He missed the trip to Sevilla after facing intense criticism but returned as a substitute against Athletic.
Atlético’s players have publicly defended him. Marcos Llorente said the team needs Álvarez’s goals and urged supporters to help him return to full confidence.
> “He is a very important player for us,” Llorente said. “We have to support him so he is at 100 percent soon.”
The Athletic defeat showed why Atlético need their leading forward to recover his form quickly. Simeone’s side controlled parts of the first half but collapsed immediately after the interval, conceding twice before they could reorganise. Álvarez’s introduction provided little attacking impact, although he forced goalkeeper Unai Simón into a save with a low shot.
Simeone must now decide how to manage a player whose long-term future remains uncertain but whose goals could be essential to Atlético’s season. Keeping Álvarez on the bench may protect the club from further disruption, but it also reduces the team’s attacking threat. Starting him could create a hostile atmosphere if performances do not improve immediately.
The only realistic way for Álvarez to repair the relationship is through his work on the pitch. Goals, consistent effort and a visible commitment to Atlético could gradually change the narrative, but patience among the supporters is already limited.
For Atlético, the defeat represents more than a poor result. It exposed tactical and emotional weaknesses while leaving the club to manage an increasingly public dispute with one of its most talented players. Simeone now needs to restore both competitive intensity and unity before the campaign moves further away from his team.
