- Julian Alvarez wants a move to Barcelona, but Atlético Madrid remain unwilling to negotiate despite a reported €100m offer with the transfer window closing.
The transfer window enters its final week and is set to close on September 1, but the Julian Alvarez saga remains unsolved; the player wants a move to Barcelona, but Atlético's hierarchy, led by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and Mateu Alemany, continues to maintain that Alvarez is not available for transfer.
Meanwhile, Arsenal emerged as an alternative option, but the terms put forward by the Premier League champions were never acceptable for Atlético, including a swap deal plus cash, including Victor Gtokerez in the deal, reports Marca.
Alvarez makes his Barcelona preference clear
Following Argentina's World Cup match against Algeria, Alvarez publicly acknowledged his desire to fulfill his long-standing ambition of playing for Barcelona, adding another layer to the dispute with Atlético, but Los Colchoneros still remain on their stance.
Barcelona have reportedly put together a package worth around €100m for Alvarez, but Atlético have refused to enter negotiations, instead sharing a video where club CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín states that Alvarez is not for sale. Later, the player's camp stated that that video was posted without permission or knowledge of the player.
Due to the public stance of the player, Atleti fans are furious towards him.
Atlético fans turn against Alvarez
He was booed by a group of fans before the match against Villarreal, and several banners expressing their anger towards him were also present outside the Metropolitano. Fans raised insulting chants towards the player during the opening when he was not even in the stands due to an injury issue, but Diego Simeone defended the fans, saying, “I am very respectful of our people.”
Simeone also stated that he wants to keep Alvarez on the team for next season despite the anger of fans and his willingness to leave.
What could happen before the transfer deadline?
The difficulty for Barcelona is no longer simply finding the money to sign Alvarez. The bigger obstacle is Atlético's willingness to negotiate. Even a substantial financial proposal has so far failed to change the club's position, while Alvarez's preference for Barcelona has created tension with supporters. With Simeone still wanting the striker and the deadline approaching, Atlético remain in control of the situation unless their stance changes.
However, his agent, Fernando Hidalgo, could revive a move to Arsenal, though the player prefers Barcelona as his next destination.