# Atlético de Madrid squad and management developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/atltico-de-madrid-squad-and-management-developments > Updated: 2026-10-23T07:00:50.000Z. Sources: 148. Developments: 4. Atlético de Madrid continues to manage squad depth and leadership stability amid ongoing injury concerns and contract discussions. In midfield, manager Diego Simeone is navigating rotation decisions following the return of Morten Hjulmand from international duty, which has increased competition for Johnny Cardoso. The club is also reportedly monitoring Brighton’s Yasin Ayari as a potential reinforcement, though they face competition from Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. Selection challenges persist due to injuries to Koke, Cuti Romero, and Cardoso. Midfielder Pablo Barrios remains part of the rotation, though his minutes are being managed following a previous myofascial injury. Additionally, Kang-in Lee has recently returned to training. The attacking lineup features competition between Alexander Sorloth, Julián Álvarez, and Jonathan David following Sorloth’s return to fitness. On the pitch, Atlético recently secured their sixth consecutive LaLiga victory with a 1-0 win against Deportivo La Coruña at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The decisive goal was scored by Julián Álvarez in the 48th minute, following a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo, marking his first La Liga goal in eight months. Despite the win, the team appeared flat and lacked intensity during a first half where Deportivo, led by coach Antonio Hidalgo, applied significant pressure. The match also featured the return of defender Josema Giménez, who played for Deportivo without a ‘fear clause’ in his loan agreement after thirteen seasons with Atlético. This victory extends Atlético’s unbeaten streak to eight matches across all competitions and narrows the gap to league leaders Barcelona to just two points. Following the match, Julián Álvarez issued a public apology to supporters regarding tensions from the 2026 World Cup, when he expressed a desire to join FC Barcelona. He stated, “I want to apologize to our fans for my words during the World Cup. ## Claims - Julián Álvarez apologized to Atlético Madrid supporters. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The apology followed a 1-0 win against Deportivo La Coruña. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Álvarez scored the winning goal in the match against Deportivo. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Julián Álvarez scored for Atlético de Madrid against Deportivo La Coruña. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Álvarez's previous comments were made during the 2026 World Cup. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Álvarez expressed a desire to join FC Barcelona during the World Cup. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The match ended in a 1-0 victory for Atlético de Madrid. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Álvarez was booed by some fans at the Metropolitano stadium before the match. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Álvarez scored his second consecutive goal of the season. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Grimaldo provided the assist for the goal. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The player is 26 years old. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The goal was scored approximately one minute and ten seconds into the second half. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-23: Julián Álvarez scores winner for Atlético Madrid against Deportivo Julián Álvarez scored the only goal in Atlético Madrid's 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruña and apologized to fans for his previous transfer requests. 135 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/atltico-de-madrid-faces-deportivo-with-key-injuries ### 2026-10-18: Atlético de Madrid players face contrasting professional shifts Atlético de Madrid midfielder Mario Soriano prepares to return to his former club's stadium, while striker Alexander Sorloth faces reduced playing time under manager Diego Simeone. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/atltico-de-madrid-players-face-contrasting-professional-shifts ### 2026-10-05: Atlético de Madrid manages squad depth and coaching future Atlético de Madrid manages midfield rotations with Morten Hjulmand's return, evaluates striker competition between Sorloth, Álvarez, and David, and faces questions regarding Simeone's contract future. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/atltico-de-madrid-manages-simeone-contract-status-and-transfer-interests ### 2026-09-24: Atlético de Madrid faces injury uncertainty with Sorloth and Barrios Atlético de Madrid players Pablo Barrios and Alexander Sorloth continue recovery efforts, with Sorloth's return date remaining uncertain due to ongoing injury complications. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madrid-derby-results-spark-tension-at-real-madrid-and-injury-updates-for-atltico --- Cite as: Atlético de Madrid squad and management developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/atltico-de-madrid-squad-and-management-developments