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Diego Simeone has said he is still prepared to bring Julian Alvarez back into the Atletico Madrid set-up as the deadlock over the striker’s proposed move to Barcelona goes on.

The 26-year-old missed three training sessions this week and has been left out of Saturday’s match at Sevilla, with Atletico holding their position and refusing to sell him to a fellow La Liga club.

Although Arsenal are still considered the leading contenders to sign the former Manchester City forward, Atletico head coach Simeone told a press conference that he still hopes the player can be brought back into the fold.

Simeone said: "I understand that all the questions will be about Julian. The club has been very clear about what will happen.

"From a sporting perspective, I hope to help him continue being as important as he still is. My focus is on Sevilla, where he won’t be available.

"When he returns, we’ll give him everything he needs to feel important. In life, anything can be reversed, as long as we have our health."

Atletico have released two public statements repeating that they will not sell Alvarez to their rivals, which means a transfer to another club is the only realistic possibility.

A statement issued by the club’s board said: “The members of Atlético de Madrid's Board of Directors have unanimously expressed their absolute support for the club's decision to not negotiate the transfer of Julián Alvarez to FC Barcelona.

“The members of the Board of Directors acknowledge that Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner. We fully stand behind the club’s previously communicated position that FC Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, as a result, there will not be any negotiation and there is zero consideration of an Alvarez transfer to Barcelona.”

Alvarez’s absence is especially important for Atletico because fellow striker Sorloth is also unavailable at present with a muscle injury.

Summer signing Cristian Romero, who arrived at Atletico from Tottenham, will travel with the squad but is not expected to be in the starting XI.

"We have to face an opponent coming off two wins who will be very confident going into tomorrow’s match," Simeone said. "We’ll have to steer the game in a direction where we think we can hurt them."