Julian Alvarez’s TERRIBLE stats that worry Simeone and Atletico Madrid

The Argentine has returned to Atlético Madrid to break his goal drought. All this while various data regarding Julián Álvarez are worrying Cholo physically.

Football is back for Diego Pablo Simeone and Julián Álvarez’s Atlético Madrid. The Colchoneros will host Valencia this Sunday for the fifth matchday of La Liga. All this after a double FIFA date that meant more wear and tear for the Spider and that confirms various data on a physical level that raises more than one alarm at the Metropolitano. The accumulated distance by the former River Plate player over these months and the lack of rest in his legs are worrying.

It’s only September 13, but the reality is that Julián Álvarez has already played minutes that could easily be compared to any player who goes through the month of December in any season. Atlético de Madrid’s big signing has already played 1,081 minutes of official competition. Only Declan Rice with Arsenal, with 1,094, surpasses him in this regard. The up to 17 games in which the Argentine has played go hand in hand with his acclimatisation to a new team and competition.

Why did it come to this with Julián Álvarez? Let’s remember that the forward was part of the Argentine delegation that won the Copa América in the United States. He was also one of those called up for the Paris Olympic Games where the Albiceleste were left without the gold medal. A very busy summer where, in order to leave Manchester City, he had to rely on minimal rest for his legs. It is worrying that in a year where Atlético Madrid can have up to 70 matches, their new great reference arrives halfway through the season exhausted.

Koke, captain of Diego Pablo Simeone’s team, was rightly asking for calm over the last few hours when commenting on how Julián Álvarez has acclimatised to his new team. The expectations are enormous, the price paid for his goals even more so and the need to compete with both Barcelona and Real Madrid seems to be an obligation. More than ever, Cholo will have to know how to move the pieces well in order not to wear out a signing that should be key in the months of April or May 2025.

It is true that Julián Álvarez is not the only player who is already getting a lot of minutes in September. The questions that various European leagues and clubs have raised about the new FIFA and UEFA calendars are confirmed by statistics like this one. To give us an idea, the Argentine did not reach that number of minutes on his legs last season until November. Note that there are still two international breaks in October and November.

Julian Alvarez will be a substitute against Valencia

The matches played by the Spider against Chile and Colombia would be the main reason for this. Atlético Madrid is still looking for the first goal from Julián Álvarez, who will not start against Los Ché this Sunday at the Metropolitano. Simeone wants to take care of him and above all that he is 100% for the start of the Champions League next week against Leipzig.

LaLiga is proud of the signing of Julián Álvarez

Javier Tebas, president of professional football in Spain, analysed the transfer market in his competition, placing the Argentine striker on a par with his biggest signings: “We have Mbappé, Álvarez, Yamal and we are not worried about other moves. Our national team has won the Euro Cup with the vast majority playing in our League and the same with the Olympic Games where we won gold. Not everything is done with signings.”