Atletico Madrid shuts door on Barcelona's Julian Alvarez pursuit: 'Not for 100, 150, or 200 million'

The standoff

Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin released a video on Friday, 17 July, stating unequivocally that the club will not sell Julian Alvarez to Barcelona. He said the club's position had been communicated to the player, his agent, and Barcelona president Joan Laporta. "We do not want to transfer him. We did not accept the €100 million offer, nor will we accept one for €150 or €200 million," Gil Marin declared. He added that Atletico's response to Laporta's claim that the offer was not infinite was that "our response is infinite."

We do not want to transfer him. We did not accept the €100 million offer, nor will we accept one for €150 or €200 million.

Laporta's pursuit

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had spoken the previous day, Thursday, on Cadena SER's El Larguero from Manhattan. He confirmed that Barcelona had made a "very important offer" for the Argentine striker but warned it would not remain open indefinitely. "We have to decide whether to maintain the offer or not, and it depends on how these two weeks until the end of July go," Laporta said. He acknowledged that the player wants to leave and that Barcelona is ready to welcome him, but also noted that there are alternatives if the deal fails.

The player has spoken and the matter is alive. It is very clear that the player wants a change of scenery and we are in a position to welcome him, and also making a very good offer.

Gil Marin's accusation

Gil Marin did not hide his irritation with Laporta's public comments. He said he had personally asked Laporta to stop insisting, but accused the Barcelona president of maintaining the saga for his "personal circus." "He knows perfectly well that Julian will not play for Barcelona next season," Gil Marin said. "He likes to maintain this game with fans and the media, and worst of all, with Julian himself." Despite the tension, Gil Marin said he has a good personal relationship with Laporta and is not offended.

He knows perfectly well that Julian will not play for Barcelona next season. Nevertheless, he likes to maintain that game with fans and with the media... and worst of all, with Julian himself.

Player's stance

Julian Alvarez himself fuelled the speculation on 22 June, during the World Cup group stage, when he said: "The best for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream." He did not name Barcelona, reportedly to avoid a formal complaint from Atletico to FIFA. The 26-year-old striker joined Atletico from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 for around €95 million and has a contract until June 2030 with a release clause of €500 million. In 106 appearances for the club, he has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists.

Real Madrid's failed bid

Barcelona is not the only club to have been rebuffed. Earlier this summer, Real Madrid submitted a €150 million offer for Alvarez, shortly after Florentino Perez was re-elected as president. Atletico rejected that bid as well, referring to the player's release clause. The offer was part of Perez's electoral promises, but Atletico's refusal ended any chance of the forward joining Jose Mourinho's side at the Santiago Bernabeu.

What happens next

With the World Cup final against Spain set for Sunday, 19 July, Alvarez's immediate focus is on the pitch. Barcelona, meanwhile, is reportedly preparing a new offensive but also working on alternatives. Laporta's deadline of the end of July looms, but Gil Marin's message leaves little room for negotiation. The saga appears far from over, but Atletico's public stance is the strongest yet.