The Julián Álvarez saga has taken a particularly tense turn. While FC Barcelona are still hoping to sign the Argentine striker before the transfer window closes, Atlético Madrid have issued a firm response: there will be no negotiations with the Catalan club.
Atlético’s board of directors unanimously backed the decision on Thursday not to negotiate Julián Álvarez’s transfer to Barça. The stance is reportedly not simply related to the potential fee involved, but above all to the conduct Atlético accuse the Catalan club’s directors of displaying.
Atlético directly accuses Barcelona
In a statement, the Madrid club explained that they are normally willing to discuss transfers when negotiations are conducted in a “professional, ethical and respectful” manner. However, Atlético believe FC Barcelona “have not met these requirements” in the Julián Álvarez case. As a result, the club insist that there have been and will be no negotiations over a transfer of the Argentine to Barcelona. The statement comes after Joan Laporta publicly confirmed Barça’s interest on Wednesday, explaining that his club remained ready to sign Álvarez if Atlético eventually agreed to sell him. Atlético, however, had already stated that there was a “zero percent” chance of their striker joining Barcelona, describing the matter as one of “dignity” rather than money.
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The message to the player is equally clear. Atlético say they are convinced Julián Álvarez “will understand the decision” and remain focused on the club’s sporting objectives, as he has done since arriving in Madrid. The situation nevertheless remains tense. During the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine striker spoke about his desire to leave in order to “fulfil [his] dream”, while he was also booed by a section of the Metropolitano crowd during the match against Villarreal.
Signed from Manchester City in 2024, Julián Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético Madrid. Over two seasons, the Argentine has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists in 107 appearances. While the door to Barcelona now appears completely closed, his future could still be one of the major stories of the final days of the transfer window, with Arsenal also reportedly among the clubs interested.
