Jan Oblak backs Julian Alvarez after Atletico whistles

The rift surrounding Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid has deepened, but captain Jan Oblak has called for the club to stand behind the Argentina forward. Oblak said Alvarez remains part of the team and deserves the support of his teammates for as long as he is at the Madrid club. He also expressed hope that the situation would be resolved positively before the end of the season.

Alvarez returned to Atletico’s starting options on Sunday during the 2-2 La Liga draw with Villarreal, coming on in the 67th minute. The 2022 World Cup winner was loudly booed by supporters at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The reaction followed his public comments about wanting to leave Atletico during the summer, which have not been accepted by a section of the club’s fanbase. Alvarez’s contract is due to run until June 2030.

The forward did not join his teammates when they went to greet the supporters after the final whistle. Instead, he went directly to the dressing room, underlining the strained atmosphere around his relationship with the home crowd. Oblak addressed the incident by insisting that Atletico must remain united rather than isolate the player.

The Slovenian goalkeeper and captain also pointed to Alvarez’s importance to the squad and what he can provide on the pitch. His intervention comes as Atletico try to manage the fallout from the player’s comments while continuing their campaign. The draw with Villarreal left the dispute unresolved, with Alvarez facing a difficult reception whenever he appears before the Metropolitano crowd.