Diego Simeone has named his travelling squad for the Champions League opener against Liverpool
Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid leaves the pitch after the match as his own fans boo him over his desire to leave the club during the transfer window
Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid leaves the pitch after the match as his own fans boo him over his desire to leave the club during the transfer window(Image: Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Wantaway striker Julian Alvarez has been included in Atletico Madrid's travelling squad for their Champions League campaign opener against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.
Diego Simeone has named a 24-man squad for the trip to Merseyside from the Spanish capital and it includes the former Manchester City forward.
Alvarez has become a deeply unpopular figure amongst Atletico fans after the Argentine tried to force through a move to La Liga rivals Barcelona during the transfer window. He was also subject to firm interest from Arsenal, but ultimately had his heart set on a move to the Catalan giants, something that his current club point-blank refused to sanction.
The 26-year-old was jeered before and after coming on as a substitute for Atletico against Villareal at the Metropolitano Stadium on August 23. He was left out of the squad for the subsequent trip to Sevilla three days later, before once again coming off the bench against Athletic Club, who inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Simeone's side.
But Alvarez has been named in the party that will be at Anfield on Wednesday as two sides who are very familiar with each other look to get their league phase fixtures off to a winning start.
The Spanish outfit will be without winger Arnau Ortiz, who is serving a suspension two years after being sent off while playing in the Conference League for Polish side Slask Wroclaw.
Ortiz was dismissed for two yellow cards in a match against Swiss side St Gallen in August 2024, and after Slask Wroclaw were knocked out he hasn't played in any European competition since, and so was unable to serve his suspension.
Alexander Sorloth misses out due to injury. Teenage striker Miguel Cubo has not been named in the squad but is expected to line up for the Under-19s team against Liverpool earlier in the day.
It remains to be seen whether Simeone chooses to start Alvarez at Anfield but the long-serving Argentine coach has insisted that his unsettled player has already been reintegrated into the Atletico squad.
Atletico Madrid squad against Liverpool in full:
Goalkeepers: Oblak, Musso, Esquivel
Defenders: Romero, Hancko, Pubill, Le Normand, Dominguez, Martinez, Grimaldo, Llorente
Midfielders: Koke, Hjulmand, Barrios, Mendoza, Cardoso, Vargas, Castillo
Forwards: Alvarez, David, Lee, Lookman, Simeone, Baena
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