Julian Alvarez Transforms at Atletico Madrid: A New Player Emerges

Julian Alvarez walked out at Majadahonda on Monday looking like the same player. By the end of the session, he was not.

Atletico Madrid returned to work for the first time since their league clash with Athletic Bilbao, with Diego Simeone putting the entire squad through its paces. Everyone was available except the injured Sorloth, who continues his recovery on the sidelines.

The structure of the day felt familiar. The starters from San Mames stayed mostly on the periphery, limited to recovery routines and light work. The rest – substitutes and those who did not feature – were thrown into a demanding session built on intensity and detail.

Simeone set up a training match and loaded it with clear instructions: press high, win the ball back fast, move it cleanly. According to Spanish outlet As, every drill revolved around those three pillars.

Alvarez led the line alongside Jonathan David, with Koke pulling the strings behind them. Behind that trio, Dominguez, Koke, Le Normand and Dani Martinez formed the defensive structure, a compact block that allowed the forwards to test themselves against real resistance.

That is where Alvarez changed the tone.

The Argentine forward, who only weeks ago seemed distant and uncomfortable, played with a freedom that had been missing. He dropped off the front line to receive the ball, linked play, demanded passes, and refused to stand still. He wanted touches. He wanted responsibility.

Then came the moment that underlined the shift. From an attacking move reminiscent of the goal he produced at San Mames, Alvarez finished off a flowing sequence with a superb strike. Same type of action, same end product – but this time in a training ground cauldron where teammates and staff were watching his every step.

The reaction around him told its own story. Encouraging shouts followed his runs. Teammates applauded his efforts. The mood around Alvarez, once tense and clouded by uncertainty, had clearly softened.

While most of the squad moved into their stretching routines at the end of the session, Alvarez kept going. One of Atletico’s fitness coaches stayed back with him as he ran extra laps and pushed through additional physical work. The message was obvious: he is chasing full match sharpness, not just going through the motions.

Those close to the session drew the same conclusion – this is not the same Alvarez from a few weeks ago. His body language has changed. His involvement has changed. His attitude has changed.

That matters, because the last few weeks had been stormy. A crisis erupted when Alvarez pushed for a move to Barcelona, only for Atletico to shut the door firmly. The club’s refusal left the forward in a difficult position, with his future questioned and his commitment scrutinised.

Now, on the training pitches of Majadahonda, he is trying to answer those doubts with running, movement, and goals.

The transfer saga may not be forgotten. But if this version of Julian Alvarez holds, Atletico might yet feel they have already secured their most important reinforcement of the season.