Julián Álvarez has publicly apologised to Atlético Madrid supporters after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruña in round 10 of La Liga at the Metropolitano. The match was played on Saturday 24 October, Spanish time, the early hours of 25 October in Vietnam. The apology concerned comments the Argentina striker made during the 2026 World Cup, when he spoke of wanting to join Barcelona despite still being under contract with Atlético, Tuổi Trẻ reported.

Speaking after the game, Álvarez said he wanted to apologise to the fans for what he had said during the World Cup and called it a mistake, both in how he said it and in when he said it, according to Tuổi Trẻ. The 26-year-old said he understood why supporters were angry and that, as a fan, he would have reacted the same way. He also said he appreciated the generosity they had shown him in recent weeks, SGGP reported.

From summer comments to a goal at the Metropolitano

KBVN+ has put together the main steps of the story from Tuổi Trẻ, SGGP and Bongda24h:

  • Summer 2026, during the World Cup: Álvarez suggested that leaving the club would be the best option (SGGP) and said he wanted to play for Barcelona (Tuổi Trẻ).
  • Summer transfer window: Barcelona pursued him but the deal fell through and he stayed at Atlético (SGGP). Bongda24h said Atlético did everything they could to block the move.
  • Start of the season: fans put pressure on Álvarez in his early appearances (SGGP) and he was repeatedly booed (Tuổi Trẻ).
  • Midweek before the Deportivo game: he scored in a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart in the Champions League, ending a six-month drought (SGGP).
  • Saturday 24 October (Spanish time): he scored in the 48th minute against Deportivo, then apologised (Tuổi Trẻ).

According to SGGP and Bongda24h, it was his first La Liga goal in eight months and his first at home since November 2025. Bongda24h noted that many fans cheered the goal while some continued to show their displeasure. Tuổi Trẻ read the applause from part of the crowd as a sign that the relationship was starting to improve.

Simeone and Oblak back the striker

Diego Simeone praised his compatriot for owning up, saying that an apology is never easy. He described Álvarez as humble, hard-working and always caring about his team-mates, Tuổi Trẻ reported. In comments carried by SGGP, the coach added that Atlético need the best version of Álvarez if the club is to achieve what its supporters expect.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak said Álvarez always gives everything and predicted that, little by little, he would win the fans back, SGGP reported.

Álvarez himself said he was improving physically and technically and felt more settled in his life. According to BongdaPlus, he said that when you feel good in life it shows on the pitch, and that he feels ready to compete for everything. He also thanked his team-mates for standing by him through a difficult period.

Where Atlético stand

The win took Atlético to 25 points, cutting the gap to Barcelona to two points for the time being, Tuổi Trẻ reported, and SGGP said Simeone's side are second. Those standings were before champions Barcelona hosted third-placed Real Madrid in El Clásico at Camp Nou on 25 October, Spanish time. For the build-up to that game, see Barcelona v Real Madrid: Rodri and Gordon ready for first clásico.

That gives the Álvarez saga an extra edge: the club he wanted to join last summer is the one sitting directly above Atlético in the table.

What comes next

Tuổi Trẻ described the goal and the public apology as only a first step towards rebuilding trust with the fans. Álvarez himself said, according to SGGP, that he now needs to focus on his work and keep improving together with the team. The coming games will show whether his return to scoring can turn the scattered applause at the Metropolitano into full support.