Oblak backs Alvarez after Atletico fans boo him off as Arsenal's pursuit intensifies

Jan Oblak has broken his silence on Julian Alvarez’s increasingly fraught situation at Atletico Madrid, insisting the squad remains united behind the Argentine striker despite him being loudly booed by home supporters during Saturday’s La Liga draw with Villarreal.

Alvarez, who missed Atletico’s opening league fixture of the season, was introduced as a second-half substitute at the Metropolitano. While his teammates completed a lap of appreciation after a late equaliser, Alvarez was directed straight down the tunnel by club officials — a decision that drew heavy jeering from the stands.

Speaking afterwards, Oblak said the dressing room is firmly behind the forward. “We all need to be united. Julian is here, he’s with us in the team and while he’s with us, we’re going to support him and we want him in the best way,” the Slovenian goalkeeper said. “Unfortunately, it’s a situation that isn’t comfortable for anyone, but hopefully all that is sorted out and at the end of the season we can all be happy.”

Manager Diego Simeone confirmed the decision to keep Alvarez away from supporters came from above him. “People at the club told me that the club decided he shouldn’t go near the stands or the fans,” Simeone said. “It was the club’s decision to keep him away and separate him so he could go to the locker room.”

When asked what advice he would give Alvarez about the hostile reception, Simeone declined to play counsellor. “I’m not here to give advice. What I have to do is concentrate on my work, which is, from a sporting sense, to give my best for Atletico Madrid. The only thing I know is that if Atletico Madrid want to win a title, we need to be together, we need to have forwards, and we need to have important forwards.”

Alvarez has been pushing for a move away from the Spanish capital, with Barcelona understood to be his preferred destination. Atletico, however, have no intention of selling to their domestic rivals, which has kept Arsenal’s interest alive. The Gunners are reportedly unwilling to meet the nine-figure asking price Atletico have set, though a potential sale of Gabriel Martinelli to Al Hilal for a record fee could free up the funds needed to table a credible offer.

With the situation at the Metropolitano growing more uncomfortable by the week, the pressure on all parties to reach a resolution before the transfer window closes is mounting.