Atlético Madrid insist they will not negotiate the transfer of Julián Álvarez to Barcelona before Monday’s deadline despite the player’s desire to move to the Spanish champions.
Barça president Joan Laporta said Wednesday that the club’s first offer — worth over €100 million ($116m) — will remain on the table should Atlético change their mind and consider transferring Álvarez.
However, Atlético, who have reported Barça to FIFA and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for tapping up the Argentina forward, say they have no desire to hold talks with the Catalan club.
“The members of Atlético Madrid’s Board of Directors have unanimously expressed their full support for the club’s decision not to negotiate the transfer of Álvarez to Barcelona,” the club said in a statement Thursday.
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“The members of the Board of Directors are aware that: ‘Atlético Madrid are open to negotiations typical of the transfer market, but always in an ethical and professional manner and with mutual respect between the clubs. We fully endorse the position previously communicated by the club that Barcelona have not met these requirements and, consequently, there have been no negotiations with them — nor will there be any — regarding the transfer of Álvarez.’
“Atlético are convinced that our player will understand the decision, focusing on performing to the best of his ability to help the club achieve their objectives, as he has already done in the two seasons he has spent representing our colours.”
Atlético’s statement would appear to definitively close the door on Álvarez’s hopes of joining Barça, although it remains to be seen if they would be open to negotiating a deal with Arsenal.
ESPN have previously reported the English champions’ interest in Álvarez, although they would also have to convince the player to join them in addition to agreeing a fee with Atlético, which would likely be well in excess of €150m.
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The talk surrounding Álvarez’s future has been one of the sagas of the summer transfer window.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid — who claimed they failed with a €150m bid — have also shown an interest in the 26-year-old, although Barça and Arsenal are the two teams remaining in the fight for his signature.
Speaking to ESPN in June, Álvarez said “a transfer would be best for all parties” and that he “wants to fulfil his dream,” which sources have told ESPN is to join Barça.
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However, Atlético have been angered by Barça’s approach, claiming they tapped up the player before entering talks with them. As such, they have reported their LaLiga rivals to FIFA and the RFEF.
Barça made Álvarez their No.1 target this summer to replace striker Robert Lewandowski, who joined the Chicago Fire upon the expiration of his contract at Spotify Camp Nou.
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The desire to sign Álvarez only increased when Lewandowski’s backup, Ferran Torres, joined PSG in a €50m deal earlier this month.
Barça had hoped Atlético’s stance would soften this week after Álvarez was jeered fiercely by his own supporters when he came on as a substitute in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal at the Metropolitano.
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Álvarez has subsequently missed training with his teammates on Wednesday and Thursday this week, supposedly because of illness.
With the transfer window set to close next week, sources have told ESPN that if Barça can’t sign Álvarez, they are unlikely to sign a No. 9 until at least January.
Raphinha started through the middle in last weekend’s 5-0 win over Elche, with Dani Olmo, Antony Gordon, Lamine Yamal and Karim Adeyemi also viewed as players who could play centrally along with Egyptian teenager Hamza Abdelkarim.
