Julian Alvarez came under heavy criticism in Spain after Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Barcelona, with commentators questioning whether the Argentina forward has done enough to justify the expectations and transfer fee surrounding him.
Alvarez worked hard and created Atletico’s goal, but he was unable to produce the decisive finish his side needed. Atletico supporters focused particularly on two clear chances that the forward failed to convert.
His best opportunity came in the first half, when he went through one-on-one with Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Garcia stood up well to the attempt and secured the ball comfortably.
Alvarez was presented with another chance late in the game when he tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper. His effort, however, sailed over the crossbar.
The match had been viewed as an important opportunity for Alvarez to rebuild his confidence and reaffirm his quality in front of Atletico’s supporters. He has experienced a period of tension following the failure of his move to Barcelona.
Instead, his performance prompted widespread criticism in the Spanish media, with particular attention paid to his lack of ruthlessness and his finishing.
Manu Carreno was especially critical during an appearance on Cadena SER.
“He is still unable to prove that he is worth €100m or €150m,” Carreno said. “Atletico need a striker who can decide matches.”
Carreno added that Alvarez had to take another step forward, arguing that he had not yet shown he could make the difference in the biggest games.
Former player Kike Narvaez also highlighted the two missed opportunities.
“They were two very clear chances, so clear that there was not even any reason to shout,” he said.
The criticism has been intensified by the expectations attached to Alvarez’s transfer, with his technical ability increasing the scrutiny whenever he fails to finish chances.
“Given his technical ability, it is not normal for Julian Alvarez to miss two chances as clear as the ones he had,” said Ladislao Monino of El Pais.
Nacho Valencia delivered one of the strongest assessments on Radio Marca, saying live on air: “You leave feeling that you have thrown your money into the rubbish bin.”
The defeat means Alvarez’s latest opportunity to restore confidence ended without the response Atletico had hoped for, despite his contribution to their goal and his continued effort throughout the match.
