Atletico Madrid fans chanted against Julian Alvarez, and coach Diego Simeone didn't defend the player amid the situation. Atletico Madrid kicked off their 2026-27 LaLiga campaign with a 2-0 win over Malaga, though Julian Alvarez‘s situation still found its way into the conversation at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. The Argentine forward, whose future at the club has been thrown into doubt amid persistent links to Barcelona, didn’t feature in the match as he continues working toward full match fitness, and a section of Atletico supporters didn’t hold back their frustration with him, with chants targeting the striker ringing out from the stands. Asked directly about the chants after the match, Diego Simeone chose not to come to his player’s defense. “I respect our fans very much,” the Argentine coach responded shortly during the press conference, declining to elaborate further or address Alvarez’s situation at the club. The brief, pointed response did little to calm the situation. Rather than distancing himself from the supporters’ behavior or backing his forward publicly, Simeone’s answer was widely read as tacit approval of the fans’ anger, deepening the sense that the relationship between Alvarez and the Atletico faithful may have reached a breaking point. 🗣️ “There were some isolated chants from a very specific section of the fans insulting Julián Alvarez…”.🔴⚪️ Diego Simeone: “I’m very respectful toward our people”. pic.twitter.com/BjxVcEI8hX— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 19, 2026 Alvarez appears set to stay at Atletico this season Despite the tension and noise surrounding him, Julian Alvarez appears increasingly likely to remain at Atletico Madrid through the rest of the transfer window. The Argentine was back on the training pitch on Thursday as part of his individual fitness program, and Diego Simeone could hand him a place in the squad for the club’s next match, against Villarreal on Sunday, August 23. Adding to the sense that his Barcelona move may no longer be on the table, reports indicate the Catalan club have shifted their attention toward Lautaro Martinez as a fallback striker option, a move that would effectively close the door on any imminent deal for Alvarez.