Atletico Madrid have moved to end the speculation surrounding star striker Julián Alvarez and said Barcelona’s primary summer target is not for sale.
Barca have been admirers of Alvarez, who will start for Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain, for some time and were desperate to bring him in as they seek a replacement for departed number nine Robert Lewandowski.
The Catalans’ president Joan Laporta confirmed the club had made an offer but said it would not remain on the table forever but Atleti have now responded with a statement of their own.
The club’s CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín said in a video posted on X: “My will is clear, that of the club too, we have expressed it to the player, the agent, and the president of Barça: Atlético is the right place for Julián and he is the perfect striker for Atlético.
“We continue to count on him. I recently heard some statements from the president of Barça saying that the offer he had made to Atlético de Madrid was not infinite and the only possible answer is that our answer is infinite and that is that we do not want to transfer him. We will not accept an offer of 100, 150, or 200m euros.”
Blow for Barcelona as Alvarez stays in Spanish capital
The news will come as a blow to Barcelona who have orchestrated a very public pursuit of the 26-year-old, who has also been linked with Arsenal.
And they have received plenty of encouragement from the player himself, who said during the World Cup: “The best thing is a transfer. I want to fulfill my dream.”
How Alvarez responds to Atletico’s insistence that he stays will now be key to the saga.
The Rojiblancos will expect he finishes the World Cup, has a rest and then returns to Madrid fit and hungry. Barca will inevitably hope he pushes for a move to Catalonia.
Alvarez joined Atletico from Manchester City for a fee in the region of £82million in August 2024 and has impressed in his two years in the Spanish capital.
He scored 29 goals in his first season at the club and backed that up with another 20 as Diego Simeone’s side finished fourth in La Liga and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, beating Barca en route to the last four.
Alvarez’s contract at the Metropolitano runs until 2030.
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