News Focus
- Atletico Madrid have published an angry statement rejecting all claims of negotiations with Barcelona over Julian Alvarez
- The Madrid club accuses their rivals of spreading ‘months of lies’ and harassing their player in media zones
- Atletico insist the Argentina forward is the ‘cornerstone’ of their project and will not be sold this summer
- Barcelona view Alvarez as the ideal replacement for ageing striker Robert Lewandowski
- The Spanish champions have placed a €150 million price tag on the former Manchester City attacker
Atletico Madrid have launched a fierce attack on Barcelona amid growing speculation linking the Catalan giants with a move for striker Julian Alvarez. The Spanish champions have dismissed reports of a potential deal as fabrications, accusing their rivals of conducting a deliberate media campaign against their player.
The controversy centres on Barcelona’s search for a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker is approaching the final stages of his career, and manager Hansi Flick has identified Alvarez as his primary target for the attacking role. However, any approach would need to match Atletico’s reported valuation of €150 million, a figure that appears beyond Barcelona’s current financial reach.
In a strongly-worded statement released through Marca, Atletico officials denied that any formal offer or meeting has taken place regarding the Argentine international. They described the ongoing speculation as part of a ‘pre-established campaign’ designed to unsettle their squad.
‘There has been no offer for our player or any meeting. We are tired of months of lies, half-truths, harassment of our players in mixed zones and absurd questions,’ the statement read. The club went on to defend Alvarez’s professional conduct, insisting he has shown ‘maximum professionalism’ and that the transfer noise is not of his making.
Atletico have made their position clear: the 26-year-old World Cup winner remains central to their future plans. Despite reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain as well as Barcelona, the club have confirmed that Alvarez will not be permitted to leave during the upcoming transfer window.
This development leaves Barcelona in a difficult position. While the club continue to view Alvarez as their perfect number nine, they have no power to force a deal against Atletico’s wishes. Unless the Madrid side dramatically change their stance, the Catalans will need to identify alternative striking options for next season.