Alvarez rejoined his teammates at Atletico’s Majadahonda training base on Monday, ending an extended post-World Cup break. Simeone was on holiday when the striker first arrived, and the meeting Alvarez wanted was postponed, a delay that reportedly left him frustrated.

The head coach has since returned to run sessions, and the conversation Alvarez has been trying to schedule is now expected in the coming days. According to SPORT, that is where the striker plans to state his position formally: he wants to leave, and he wants to join Barcelona.

A private request, not a public rebellion

Alvarez’s approach, as reported by SPORT and relayed by Spanish and international outlets, is to press his case privately rather than through public statements or a refusal to train. His representatives have already told Barcelona sporting director Deco that the player is willing to keep raising the pressure until Atletico open talks.

Barcelona have had one attempt rejected. A €100m bid went in earlier in the summer and was turned down flat, with Atletico refusing to negotiate and pointing to a €500m release clause in a contract that runs until 2031.

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The Catalan club are reportedly willing to improve their offer if Atletico open the door, but they have no intention of getting close to the buyout figure.

Yamal’s open invitation

Lamine Yamal made his position public on 30 June at Spain’s World Cup base in Chicago.

“He’s a great player; if he comes, we’ll welcome him with open arms,” Yamal told Spanish radio.

Earlier this month he liked an Instagram post from the Catalan account Jijantes reporting that Deco and Alvarez’s agent Fernando Hidalgo were meeting to work on the deal.

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Why Atletico are digging in

Selling their most valuable forward to a direct La Liga title challenger is a scenario Atletico have made clear they will not entertain. The club maintain they have no obligation to negotiate below the release clause, and that any interested party is free to trigger it.

Alvarez has already made his own position public. During the World Cup he said he had spoken with Atletico’s leadership and believed a move was “the best thing for everyone.”

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