Barcelona target Julian Alvarez apologises to Atletico Madrid fans after summer controversy: ‘It was a mistake’
· Yahoo Sports
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Julian Alvarez has apologised to Atletico Madrid supporters for his comments about leaving the club for Barcelona during the summer, admitting he understands why fans were angry.
The Argentine forward addressed the controversy after scoring the winner in Atletico’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
His goal and subsequent apology could mark an important step towards repairing his relationship with the club’s supporters.
Alvarez admits his Barcelona transfer comments were a mistake
Alvarez’s future became a major talking point during the summer after he expressed his desire to leave Atletico, with Barcelona reportedly his preferred destination.
However, Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin refused to entertain negotiations, leaving the forward to continue in Madrid.
The situation contributed to a difficult start to the campaign, with sections of the Atletico support expressing their frustration through boos and jeers.
Following his goal against Deportivo, Alvarez chose to address the issue before taking questions.
“First of all, I wanted to say a few words; I wanted to apologise to our fans for what I said during the World Cup.
“It was a mistake on my part, both in terms of how I said it and the timing, and above all because I understand why people are angry; as a fan myself, I would have been angry too, especially given how they’ve stood by me all this time.
“Even in these last few weeks, when they’ve been so generous – I really appreciate that,” he remarked.
Alvarez thanks Atletico teammates for their support
Alvarez also made it clear that his priority is now improving his performances and helping Atletico compete for major honours.
Julian Alvarez has apologised to Atletico Madrid fans. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“Now I have to focus on working hard, on continuing to improve my performance alongside the whole team – whom I’d like to thank because they’ve given me so much throughout this time.
“So, let’s get to work; we’ve got some very important things to do with the team.”
The forward credited his teammates with helping him through the difficult period and said his recent performances had begun to improve.
“As I said just now, I’m grateful to all my teammates because they’ve supported me so much. They’ve given me so much during this time.
“I’m working to improve, and I’ve felt better in recent matches – both physically and on the ball. So, I’ll help the team and give my best,” he concluded.