Atletico Madrid have insisted there is “0% chance” of selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona after the Catalan club reaffirmed its interest in signing the Argentina forward.
The Spanish club reacted after Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the club’s €100m (£85.7m) offer for Alvarez remained on the table.
Atletico condemned Laporta’s latest comments and maintained that the 26-year-old is not available for a move to Barcelona.
“This is not about money, it’s about dignity. The player is being victimised, but the only victim in the Julian case is us,” Atletico said.
“They have harmed us economically and socially. There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca.
“There is a campaign of many lies and half-truths. The only one paying for this is Atletico.”
Background
Barcelona’s initial interest in Alvarez emerged in May, with reports that the club had opened talks over a possible move.
Atletico have consistently opposed selling the forward to Barcelona and previously accused the Catalan club of conducting a “smear campaign” over their pursuit of him.
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Real Madrid also made a reported €150m (£130m) offer for Alvarez in June, but Atletico rejected the proposal and pointed to the player’s €500m (£430m) release clause.
Alvarez later indicated that he was open to leaving Atletico, saying after Argentina’s win over Austria in June that “the best thing for everyone is a transfer” and adding: “I want to fulfil my dream”.
Those comments suggested the player was open to a move, with Barcelona and Paris St-Germain among the clubs reported to be interested.
Barcelona’s pursuit has also been linked to the need for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left the club this summer.
However, Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has previously insisted that Alvarez would not be sold, saying the club would not accept even €200m (£170.8m) for the striker.
Barcelona maintain interest
In a video published on Wednesday, Laporta said Barcelona had great respect for Atletico but confirmed that the offer submitted earlier in the summer remained available.
Sources at Barcelona say the club will continue trying to sign Alvarez, who joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024, until the transfer window closes.
The latest exchange adds to weeks of increasingly complicated negotiations and public disagreements between the two clubs.
Arsenal are also interested in the striker and regard him as a major transfer target, although sources close to the situation say Alvarez still wants to remain in Spain.
Alvarez booed by Atletico fans
The transfer dispute has intensified after Alvarez was booed by Atletico supporters during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Villarreal.
The forward started on the bench before coming on in the 66th minute and was jeered again by sections of the home support.
At full-time, Alvarez went straight down the tunnel rather than joining his team-mates in applauding the fans, drawing further boos.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone said afterwards that it had been a pre-agreed decision for the forward to go directly to the dressing room.
Alvarez subsequently missed training on Wednesday, with reports saying he was unwell.
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was asked about the situation ahead of Thursday’s match against Athletic Club but declined to discuss Alvarez directly.
“I only want to speak about the situation of the club,” Flick said.
With the transfer deadline approaching on 1 September, Alvarez’s future remains one of the major talking points of the window.
