Atlético Madrid has reinforced its stance regarding the potential sale of forward Julián Álvarez to Barcelona, rejecting any negotiations with the Spanish champions on Thursday.
The Atlético board unanimously expressed full support for the club's decision not to negotiate Álvarez's transfer to Barcelona. The club also stated that it is open to other offers, as Arsenal has recently been in contact with the Argentine player.
In an official statement, Atlético said: 'There have been and will be no negotiations with them (Barcelona) regarding the transfer of Álvarez.' The club emphasized that it is ready to discuss deals that comply with the principles of the transfer market, but only 'ethically and professionally and with respect between clubs.'
Atlético noted that Barcelona did not meet these requirements, but provided no further details. Previously, the 'Roja Blancos' filed a complaint with FIFA and the Spanish Football Federation due to Barcelona's persistence regarding Álvarez.
The club also reported that it is confident that Álvarez will understand this decision and focus on working his best to achieve the team's goals. It should be recalled that on Wednesday, the forward missed training for the second consecutive day due to an alleged illness after Atlético fans began insulting him during the La Liga match between Atlético and Villarreal, which ended 2-2 on Sunday.
Earlier in July, during the World Cup, Álvarez stated that the move would be 'best' for all parties. Atlético's statement followed one day after Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed hope of signing the 2022 World Cup winner, Álvarez, before the transfer window closed.
Laporta reported that Barça still has an offer for the 26-year-old player, valued at approximately 100 million euros. Barcelona has made Álvarez its main target, aiming to strengthen its attacking line after the departure of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Álvarez joined Atlético from Manchester City in 2024 on a contract worth up to 95 million euros.