Julian Alvarez has publicly apologised to Atletico Madrid supporters for his comments during the summer World Cup, when he expressed his desire to leave the Spanish club.
The Argentina international addressed the controversy following Atletico’s 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, admitting that his handling of the situation had been inappropriate.
Alvarez was heavily linked with Barcelona during the summer transfer window and reportedly identified the Catalan club as his preferred destination.
However, a move failed to materialise, leaving the former Manchester City striker facing considerable criticism from Atletico supporters.
Speaking to Movistar Plus Deportes after Saturday’s victory, Alvarez acknowledged the frustration his comments had caused.
“I want to apologise to our people for my words during the World Cup. It was a mistake on my part,” he said. “As a fan myself, I would have been angry too.”
The 26-year-old also expressed gratitude towards supporters who continued backing him despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
He admitted that both the timing and manner of his previous statements had been wrong, insisting that his immediate priority was improving his performances.
Alvarez has endured a difficult start to the campaign, with injuries and inconsistent form affecting his contribution under Diego Simeone.
The forward also faced boos from sections of the Metropolitano crowd following his unsuccessful attempt to secure a summer departure.
However, his recent performances suggest that he could be beginning to repair his relationship with the supporters.
Alvarez scored the winning goal against Deportivo on Saturday, converting in the 48th minute to secure an important three points.
The strike followed his Champions League goal against Stuttgart earlier in the week, ending a prolonged spell without scoring.
His latest league goal was his first in La Liga since February and helped Atletico move within two points of leaders Barcelona.
Simeone welcomed the apology, praising Alvarez for acknowledging his mistake and expressing confidence in his importance to the team.
The Atletico manager emphasised that the club would need the Argentine performing at his best to achieve their ambitions this season.
Alvarez’s future has attracted considerable attention beyond Spain, with Arsenal previously exploring attacking reinforcements during the summer.
The Gunners were linked with an ambitious move for the former Manchester City forward but ultimately failed to secure his signature.
His latest comments do not definitively settle questions surrounding his long-term future, although they suggest an intention to rebuild trust at Atletico.
For now, Alvarez appears focused on rediscovering his best form and winning back the supporters whose patience was tested during the summer.