Forward has been targeted by both Real Madrid and Barcelona but Atletico have reacted firmly each time
Atletico Madrid have accused Barcelona of attempting to unsettle Julian Alvarez and say they will report the Spanish champions to Fifa after the Argentina forward publicly expressed his desire to leave the club.
It is a noticeable high point in a transfer dispute very likely to stretch until the end of the summer, and possibly to next year.
Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin reacted angrily after Alvarez revealed he had informed club officials of his wish to move on. Gil Marin insisted that Atletico have no intention of selling the striker and that Barcelona were behind the player’s comments, accusing the Catalans of pursuing a footballer under contract.
“It wasn’t the right day to make such statements; it was a day for Messi and the Argentine national team, not Julian,” Gil Marin said.
“Julian has a dream [to sign elsewhere], but we Atletico fans have dreams, too. It is true that he has spoken to us, but it is also true that he is fully aware of our position because we have been very clear: Atleti do not want to transfer him. He is a great player and we are very proud that he plays for us.”
Alvarez spoke after Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup victory over Austria, saying he believed a transfer would be the best outcome despite having a contract with Atletico until 2030.
“I don’t think it’s the right moment to talk, but I also don’t want to hide,” he said. “I try to be an honest person. I spoke with the people at Atletico who I needed to speak with. I think the best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream.”
The striker did not specify his preferred destination, although reports in Spain suggest Barcelona are his target club. Atletico, however, have responded by escalating their criticism of the Catalan club, claiming that this is their pattern, designed to pressure rivals into selling players.
“Barça are disrespecting us,” Gil Marin said. “They think they can walk all over us and that we are weak and stupid, but in reality, they are showing the world a way of acting which defines them.
“They lie to us, to the player, to the media … they even lie to their own supporters. They try to make everyone believe they can do a deal that in reality they are not capable of doing.
“This isn’t the first time Barça have acted like this, and the football world is well aware of it. Last year they did something very similar with Nico Williams and Athletic Club.
“Our responsibility is to defend the interests of Atletico Madrid. That is why we are going to lodge a complaint with Fifa against Barça for negotiating with a player under contract during the protected period.”
Barcelona sources maintain that Atletico have long been aware of their interest through discussions between the clubs.
The Alvarez question will certainly be one of the summer’s most closely watched transfer sagas. Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have all been linked with the player. Real Madrid recently disclosed that a €150m offer had been rejected by their city rivals, although this may simply have been a half-hearted follow-up on a promise made by Florentino Perez while campaigning for the Madrid presidency.
Atletico also dismissed an earlier Barcelona approach worth around €100m and responded on social media with a series of mocking social media posts. As of now it is unclear how matters may proceed. There will be many more twists and turns as the summer progresses.
Alvarez joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024 in a deal worth up to €95m and has scored 49 goals in 106 appearances, including 10 in last season’s Champions League.
