Julián Álvarez was booed by Atlético Madrid supporters as his side were held to a 2-2 draw by Villarreal in La Liga amid growing speculation over the forward’s future.
Álvarez started the match on the bench but was jeered by sections of the Atlético support while warming up.
As reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, the reaction intensified when he came on in the 66th minute.
The Argentina international has been linked with a move away from Atlético and reportedly wants to leave the club to fulfil his ambitions.
Arsenal and Barcelona have been mentioned as possible destinations before the transfer deadline on 1 September.
Atlético took the lead shortly before the hour mark when Marc Pubill curled a fine effort into the net.
Villarreal responded quickly, with Gerard Moreno converting from the penalty spot to level the game.
The visitors then appeared to take control after Atlético defender Robin le Normand was sent off in the 76th minute for a foul on Georges Mikautadze inside the area.
Mikautadze stepped up and converted the resulting penalty to put Villarreal ahead.
However, Atlético refused to surrender and equalised with five minutes remaining. A swift counter-attack ended with Giuliano Simeone sliding the ball home to rescue a point for the hosts.
Álvarez headed straight down the tunnel at full-time, drawing further boos from the home supporters. Atlético manager Diego Simeone later suggested the forward’s early departure had been agreed by the club beforehand.
The result leaves Atlético with four points from their opening two La Liga matches, while Villarreal have two points after drawing both of their games.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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