Julián Álvarez eyes reconciliation with the Metropolitano in Champions League clash against Manchester United

Just a few months ago, Julián Álvarez was one of Atlético Madrid's defining names, a player the Metropolitano crowd had embraced as one of their own. Today, ahead of a Champions League match against Manchester United, the story looks a lot more complicated. How did it get to this point?

It all started when the Argentine forward himself made public his desire to leave the club in order to fulfill what he described as a dream: playing for Barcelona. Interest from the Catalan club, along with Real Madrid and Arsenal, put him at the center of the European transfer market for weeks. But Atlético didn't budge an inch. Club president Miguel Ángel Gil Marín was blunt in shutting the door on any negotiation with Barcelona, and the club publicly backed its forward's continuity. Julián stayed, though not everything stayed the same.

The most visible part of that wear and tear came from the stands. On his return against Villarreal, the Metropolitano greeted him with loud whistles, and the forward ended up leaving the field alone. Weeks later, in the derby against Real Madrid, he was booed again, though by the end the stadium seemed somewhat more forgiving. His relationship with part of the fan base took a hit, and that's something that still needs managing.

On the field, the start of the season hasn't helped either. Julián arrived still working his way back into form after the World Cup and dealing with some physical issues, and he closed out September with very intermittent playing time: up to that point he had featured in four official matches, just one as a starter, with no goals and a single assist, the one at Anfield against Liverpool.

First Alavés, then a familiar face

After the international break, Atlético returns to action this Saturday, October 10, visiting Alavés in LaLiga. But the match that could truly change the mood arrives just three days later: on Tuesday, October 13, Manchester United visits the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for matchday two of the Champions League league phase.

And this is no ordinary opponent for Julián. During his time at Manchester City he played in several derbies against the Red Devils, so this reunion comes loaded with history, though now he's wearing a different jersey and facing different pressure. Atlético needs to bounce back after falling 2-1 to Liverpool in its European opener, while Manchester United arrives with confidence after thrashing Sabah 4-0 in its continental debut.

The Champions League, in any case, is familiar territory for Julián. Last season he was one of Atlético's standout players in the competition, with 10 goals and four assists in 15 matches, part of the 20 goals he scored overall across all competitions.

More than just a question of goals

The club is hoping to get back that decisive forward who ended up being named Player of the Season, and Julián himself needs to feel important again and win back the support of a fan base that once saw him as an absolute point of reference. After everything that happened over the summer, the path forward seems clear enough: play, compete and start scoring again. No statements are needed, goals will do.

Few stages offer a better opportunity than a Champions League night at the Metropolitano, against an English giant and a rival he knows by heart. Manchester United thus looks like much more than the next match on the calendar: it could be the starting point of a new chapter for Julián Álvarez at Atlético Madrid.