Atlético de Madrid have confirmed that Julián Álvarez will start their next Champions League match against Manchester United, a step that football director Walter Zimmermann considers essential to restoring normality within the club after the summer controversy.
Zimmermann, who has supervised the incorporation of the Argentine striker, declared before the Movistar microphones that “seeing Julián in the starting eleven is a definitive step towards absolute normality in our situation.” The comment underlines the intention to leave behind the episode in which the player was about to leave the club for a transfer to Barcelona. The coach's vision is that Álvarez's presence in the team will help focus on the future and forget recent problems.
The football director also spoke about the construction of the Atlético project. “The feeling that the team gives is that it is being built,” he said, referring to the five recent signings who are already contributing to the team. Zimmermann added that, despite the complications of the World Cup, the group's integration process continues to improve and that the “wardrobe” is increasingly decisive. The objective is to consolidate the squad in LaLiga and win the next game after the defeat at Anfield.
Regarding the match against Manchester United, Zimmermann described the duel as “a big match in Europe, of the highest level, of maximum demand, of maximum emotion of the people.” The coach emphasized that Atlético will play with its best version in the stadium itself, surrounded by its fans, and that nerves are normal given the magnitude of the match.
With Julián Álvarez in the starting lineup, Atlético de Madrid seeks to restore the confidence of its fans and advance in European competition. The club hopes that the presence of the Argentine forward will contribute to a solid performance and the recovery of internal stability after the ups and downs of the summer.