Atletico Madrid have hit back at Barcelona amid growing speculation over the future of Julian Alvarez, insisting there is no possibility of the Argentina international moving to the Camp Nou this summer despite the player's clear desire to join.
The 26-year-old forward, who remains under contract at the Metropolitano until 2030, has become the subject of an increasingly bitter transfer standoff as the summer window edges toward its close. Atletico issued a strongly worded statement this week condemning what they described as a campaign of misinformation orchestrated by Barcelona and Alvarez's camp.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, the club rejected any suggestion that Alvarez was being mistreated. "The player is being portrayed as a victim, but the only victims in the Julian case are us," the statement read. "They have harmed us economically and socially. There is zero per cent chance of selling him to Barca."
Atletico went further, framing the dispute as one of principle rather than finance. "A campaign has been created with many lies and half-truths," the club added. "The only one who pays for this is Atletico." Sources close to the situation say the club views the episode as a matter of "dignity" rather than simply a negotiation over transfer fees.
Tensions boiled over publicly during Atletico's draw with Villarreal at the weekend, when Alvarez was jeered by sections of the home support after coming on as a substitute. The forward's absence from training in midweek, officially attributed to illness, only added to speculation that his time at the club may be nearing an end.
The latest flashpoint came after Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly confirmed his club's interest in signing Alvarez and called on Atletico to accept an offer. So far, however, Barcelona have only formally bid €100m (£86m) for the player—well short of the €150m (£128m) valuation Atletico are believed to be willing to consider, with doubts remaining over whether Barcelona have the financial capacity to meet that figure.
With the transfer deadline just a week away, Atletico are reportedly eager to have the matter resolved by Friday, wary of the situation dragging on and further disrupting preparations for their upcoming LaLiga fixture away at Sevilla on Saturday evening. The club is understood to want Alvarez available and focused for that match regardless of how the transfer saga unfolds.
Complicating matters further is continued interest from Arsenal, who have been closely monitoring developments despite acknowledging that Barcelona remains Alvarez's preferred destination. The Premier League club are said to believe Atletico could still be open to a sale if a suitably strong offer materializes before the week is out.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, keen to reshape his attacking options, has reportedly discussed the possibility of including a forward such as Viktor Gyokeres or Gabriel Jesus as part of any potential deal for Alvarez. Such a structure could offer Atletico an alternative route to resolving the situation without directly strengthening a domestic rival like Barcelona.
For now, Atletico remain publicly resolute in their refusal to sanction a move to Barcelona, even as pressure mounts from multiple directions. Whether that stance holds firm as the deadline approaches—or whether Arsenal's interest ultimately provides a way out—remains to be seen.
Based on reporting from The Independent and Marca.