Atletico Madrid insists Julian Alvarez will understand decision not to transfer to Barcelona

Atletico Madrid has firmly stated that its board of directors unanimously supports the decision not to transfer Argentine player Julian Alvarez to Barcelona. The club issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to ethical and professional market practices, asserting that Barcelona has failed to meet these standards. Consequently, Atletico Madrid declared that no negotiations with Barcelona regarding Alvarez will take place.

The club expressed confidence that Alvarez will understand and accept this decision, encouraging him to focus on contributing to Atletico Madrid's objectives, as he has done in his two seasons with the team. This stance comes as the transfer window nears its close, with Alvarez's future uncertain. While Arsenal has shown interest, the operation remains unclear and lacks the player's approval, who has publicly and privately voiced his desire to join Barcelona.

Alvarez has missed the last two training sessions due to illness, further complicating the situation. His wish to transfer to Barcelona has been known since the end of last season, with him stating in June that a transfer would be "best for everyone" and that he wanted to fulfill his "dream" of playing for the Catalan club. However, he did not explicitly name Barcelona at the time.

Atletico Madrid had previously warned against negotiating with Barcelona, noting that the club's only offer was for 100 million euros, payable in six installments, which they deemed disrespectful given the player's 500 million euro release clause.