Atletico removes Alvarez from the squad, Barca receives a very strong signal

Julian Alvarez's future at Atletico Madrid is again uncertain after the Argentine forward was excluded from the team list for the friendly against Marseille. As Spanish outlets bring fresh updates, Barcelona remains a key topic in this intriguing situation.

Julian Alvarez was not included in Atletico Madrid's squad for the friendly against Marseille on Friday. According to TyC Sports, the Argentine striker only returned to training five days ago after his post-World Cup break, but he was immediately left out of this match. This development has reignited interest in his future.

Alvarez is not the only international player who recently returned but was left out of the squad. Alex Baena, Marcos Llorente, and Juan Musso were also absent, while Alexander Sorloth missed out due to injury. However, Alvarez's case draws particular attention because rumors linking him to Barcelona have not completely died down, even though Atletico has repeatedly stated its desire to keep him.

According to TyC Sports, Alvarez is reportedly still keen on a move to Barcelona and has discussed his situation with coach Diego Simeone. Atletico continues to maintain that the Argentine striker is part of the club's plans. Nevertheless, new developments in Spain suggest that the story is not entirely closed and contradictory signals are emerging.

Cadena SER later reported even more notable information. According to this source, Alvarez told his teammates that he "made a mistake in how he handled the Barcelona issue" while reaffirming his commitment to Atletico. This detail somewhat reduces the likelihood of the Argentine forward leaving, but it is not enough to completely erase the doubts that have surfaced recently.

Atletico still views Alvarez as a key element in Simeone's plans. The Madrid-based club will begin its La Liga campaign with a match against Malaga on August 19. If no new developments occur, Alvarez could be ready for that game and continue to play an important role in the attack.

Nevertheless, the fact that Alvarez was unexpectedly left out of the friendly squad against Marseille has drawn particular attention from the Spanish press. Barcelona has been named as a potential destination the Argentine striker desires, while Atletico remains determined to keep him. The latest signals indicate that Alvarez's future has not been fully decided yet.