Exclusive report from Spanish television channel La Sexta journalist Álex Silvestre: some Atlético Madrid players in the dressing room are reportedly uncomfortable with the current situation and would prefer Julián Álvarez to leave.

The journalist said:

 “Some players in the Atlético Madrid dressing room are very uncomfortable with everything that is happening at the moment. They are uncomfortable with the situation, and even with Álvarez himself.>

> The reason they feel uncomfortable is because they have to prepare themselves to deal with the situation. Seeing Álvarez train the way he does and observing his attitude makes them uncomfortable. A few days ago, they told me that they had not seen Álvarez giving 100% in training. Even when the ball doesn’t come to him, his body language and the way he behaves on the pitch are completely different from before.

Today, I also asked them what would happen if Álvarez stayed. What I have been told is that many players in the Atlético Madrid dressing room do not understand why the club is not trying to find a way to make Álvarez leave. They would rather see the club’s star player leave than see Álvarez continue in his current state.

 They do not see a short-term solution. In other words, what they see is a Álvarez who is emotionally down and unhappy, a Álvarez who has already expressed to people close to him that he wants to leave, just as he did in his previous public statements. The question is: what happens next? How will this situation develop? That is the key issue.

Álvarez will not actively seek a way out. He will not discuss the matter publicly, at press conferences or in mixed-zone interviews. The club has also told Atlético players that if they are asked about the situation, they should respond with statements such as, ‘We support Álvarez, we stand with him.’

 But in reality, many players now do not want Álvarez to stay.”