Julian Alvarez Shines in Intense Atletico Madrid Training Session

The mood around Julian Alvarez has shifted. Not in a press room, not in a board office, but on the training pitch at Majadahonda.

Atletico Madrid returned to work there on Monday, their first session since the league clash with Athletic Bilbao. Diego Simeone had almost his entire squad at his disposal. Only the injured Alexander Sorloth sat it out. Everyone else laced up.

As usual, the starters from San Mames stayed on a lighter programme, going through recovery drills on the fringes. The rest were pushed hard. The substitutes and unused players were thrown into an intensive workout that quickly turned into something more revealing.

Simeone turns up the tempo

Simeone used the day to stage a training match built around three non-negotiables: pressing, winning the ball back fast and moving it sharply. Spanish daily As detailed how the coach demanded aggression without the ball and precision with it.

Up front, Julian Alvarez and Jonathan David led the line. Behind them, Koke dictated the rhythm in midfield, a familiar metronome in the middle of the chaos. Dominguez, Koke, Le Normand and Dani Martinez formed the defensive line in one of the trial setups, tasked with holding shape under constant pressure.

Then came the real headline: Alvarez looked nothing like the hesitant, distracted figure of recent weeks.

A different Alvarez

The Argentine forward played with freedom. He dropped off the front, came short to receive, turned, linked play and demanded the ball again. He moved with intent, not obligation.

The standout moment arrived in a move that felt like a flashback to San Mames. Alvarez finished off a flowing attack with a superb goal, mirroring the type of action he had produced against Athletic Bilbao. Same instincts, same execution, but this time on a training pitch that suddenly felt like a stage.

Those watching did not stay silent. Encouraging shouts followed him through the drills. Teammates and staff could be heard backing him, a clear sign that the internal mood around him is softening.

Extra work, clear message

When the main session ended, most players dropped into their stretching routines. Alvarez did not. He stayed on the move, working separately with one of Atletico Madrid’s fitness coaches.

While the rest of the squad eased down, the forward kept running. Extra laps, extra effort, a clear push to rebuild his physical peak and, with it, his standing in the group.

The change in behaviour is stark compared to the version of Alvarez seen only a few weeks ago. Then, crisis hovered over him after he pushed for a move to Barcelona, a transfer Atletico Madrid flatly refused. The fallout left him isolated, his future questioned, his commitment scrutinised.

Now, the signs point in a different direction. His body language has shifted, his work rate has spiked, and his touches carry conviction again.

The transfer door stayed shut. The training ground door is wide open. What Alvarez does with it from here could define his season in red and white.