"Not one pass to Blondie"

Diego Forlán left the field in Atlético Madrid's 2-2 tie with Sevilla on Saturday incandescent with rage. Substituted in the 83rd minute for Diego Costa, the Calderón crowd afforded the Uruguayan's performance rare applause but Forlán, who had played the match despite receiving treatment for an ongoing ankle problem, did not appreciate the decision of Quique Sánchez Flores.

The Atlético coach could see the rage he had induced in his player, the provider of both assists for the team's goals, and kept his distance as Forlán stalked from the pitch. He did not even offer a handshake. "He did the right thing," said one person present on the Atlético bench. "[Forlán] was like a pressure cooker, about to blow."

"We have the Guns of Navarone, but nobody to give them the ammunition"

The double Golden Boot winner, often criticized by friend and foe alike for his excessive sincerity, made his feelings abundantly clear: "That's it! Son of a bitch! I'm off!" Forlán shouted before marching to the locker room.

The impression was that Forlán's spitting rage was aimed at Sánchez Flores. "Our relationship is perfectly normal between professionals," the coach soothed. "It's perfect," club president Enrique Cerezo added. In reality, the origin of the South Africa World Cup Golden Ball winner's wrath was José Antonio Reyes. Although the winger passed the ball to Forlán six times, compared to three concessions in the opposite direction, the Uruguay forward complained that he had played Reyes in for Atlético's second goal while the midfielder had ignored Forlán's runs into space.

"From my position I can see things I don't like, that don't convey a picture of unity, of teamwork," one Atlético player said. "For example, I could see Reyes ignore Forlán, preferring to keep the ball when pressured by four opponents instead of passing."

"It's a problem that's been dragging on ever since Diego got us into the Champions League in 2009-10 after a spectacular second half to the season," the technical staff say. Atlético's coach at the time, Abel Resino, held Forlán up as an example. "He gave the plaudits to a player who won seven of the last eight games of the season almost single-handed," say club insiders. "A couple of players didn't like that."

The following season, the side slumped to defeat after defeat and Resino was sacked after Atlético was thrashed 4-0 by Chelsea in the Champions League. There were many in the club who thought it was due to Resino's paternal treatment of Forlán. "Later we learned that there were some players who were whispering in the queue for the physio's room: 'not a pass to Blondie.' That's what they call him behind his back," says a member of the backroom staff.

Sánchez Flores has been unable to solve a latent problem. Against Sevilla, Forlán passed to his strike partner Sergio Agüero five times and the Argentinean responded with one ball in return. Over the season the balance of passes is 61-29 for Forlán. "Statistics can lie," said a teammate. "But it's mind-blowing how José [Reyes] ignores Diego."

"Agüero profits from Forlán's movement between the lines," said Sánchez Flores in conciliatory tone. Nevertheless, he is concerned by "the drought" of his main strikers. Forlán has nine for the season, Agüero 14. "This is the year that Agüero should take the definitive step or stagnate."

"We have the Guns of Navarone, but we lack a professional who knows how to give them the ammunition," complained Cerezo. "We are throwing away the best years of both of them."

There are many who believe Forlán will leave Atlético in the summer, but the numbers raise doubts. He is 31 and earns 4.5 million euros net per season. With two years remaining on his contract, Atlético will not settle for less than 25 million euros. "He is sad that whatever he does, he always feels he puts his foot in it. [...] He is the first to admit he is not playing well, but which team will better his salary?" ask club insiders.