Cerezo urges Alvarez to focus on Atletico before Barcelona meeting
Atletico could take the La Liga lead with a home win as the striker faces the club he sought to join during the summer.
Enrique Cerezo, president of Atletico Madrid, has called on Julian Alvarez to concentrate on scoring for the club ahead of its home match against Barcelona, following the striker’s unsuccessful effort to move to the Catalan side.
In an interview with Cadena SER, Cerezo acknowledged the personal significance of the fixture for Alvarez. He said the Argentina international had recognized his mistake and apologized, and that his responsibility now was to perform for Atletico.
The match also offers Diego Simeone’s team a chance to lead La Liga before the November international break. Barcelona have 30 points after 11 games, with Atletico two points behind. Real Madrid also have 30 points following a 3-0 win against Valencia, but have played an additional match.
Alvarez, 26, faced boos from Atletico supporters after publicly seeking a departure during the summer. Barcelona pursued him, but Atletico rejected a sale and cited a contract running until June 2030.
The forward scored the only goal against Deportivo La Coruna on October 24 and subsequently apologized for the way he had discussed his future during the World Cup. Some supporters gave him a standing ovation after the goal, and Simeone later praised his acknowledgment of the mistake.
