Diego Simeone says unsettled Julian Alvarez still has place at Atletico Madrid

Julian Alvarez. 

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has vowed to welcome Julian Alvarez back into his squad amid the ongoing stalemate over the striker’s prospective move to Barcelona.

Alvarez has missed three training sessions this week and will not feature in his side’s trip to Sevilla on Saturday as his club stand firm over their refusal to sell him to their LaLiga rivals.

Arsenal remain a front-runner in the race to sign the former Manchester City man but Simeone told a press conference that he has not given up hope of reintegrating the 26-year-old.

Simone said: “I understand that all the questions will be about Julian. The club has been very clear about what will happen.

“From a sporting perspective, I hope to help him continue being as important as he still is. My focus is on Sevilla, where he won’t be available.

“When he returns, we’ll give him everything he needs to feel important. In life, anything can be reversed, as long as we have our health.” Atletico have issued two public statements insisting they will not sell Alvarez to their rivals, with a move elsewhere now appearing to be the only realistic option.

The absence of Alvarez is especially important for Atletico given the ongoing unavailability of fellow striker Sorloth due to a muscle injury.

Cristian Romero, who joined Atletico from Tottenham in the summer, will travel with the squad but is unlikely to start.

“We have to face an opponent coming off two wins who will be very confident going into tomorrow’s match,” said Simeone. “We’ll have to steer the game in a direction where we think we can hurt them.”

Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson has completed his move to Aston Villa from Chelsea for a fee understood to be worth a club-record £65million, signing a five-year deal.

The move reunites the striker with manager Unai Emery, under whom he worked when they were together at LaLiga side Villarreal.

Emery confirmed the 25-year-old’s imminent arrival during his press conference on Friday to preview Monday’s game against Arsenal, with the club announcing the deal several hours later.

The Senegal international, who was the subject of interest last summer from Villa before making a loan move to Bayern Munich, comes in as a replacement for Ollie Watkins, whose £50m move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal is being finalised.