Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona offer for Julian Alvarez as Atletico Madrid reject sale

Laporta reiterates Barcelona offer

Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed that the club maintains a formal bid to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez before the summer transfer window closes on 1 September. In a video released across club media channels on 26 August, Laporta stated that Barcelona kept their proposal active after learning Atletico had opened talks with other prospective clubs, despite previously telling Barcelona the player was not for sale. Laporta confirmed he personally contacted Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin by phone to express interest. The Catalan club is seeking a central striker following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, with manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco focused exclusively on Alvarez.

Laporta framed the ongoing pursuit as a standing offer pending Atletico's willingness to negotiate.

The Barca offer is still valid in case they want to sell him. From what is being said, it appears that the player wants to come to Barca, so we reiterate our interest and our intention, with all due respect to Atletico Madrid, to try to sign the player.

Atletico Madrid resistance and valuation

Atletico Madrid leadership has maintained that Alvarez will not be sold to a direct Spanish league rival. Gil Marin previously indicated that the club would decline bids even reaching 200 million euros for an essential player under contract through 2030. Reports indicate Alvarez has a release clause of 500 million euros. Club officials told Spanish daily Marca that the possibility of selling the forward to Barcelona is zero percent, describing the stance as an issue of club dignity. Earlier in the year, Atletico rejected a 150 million euro offer from Real Madrid, while Premier League champions Arsenal have also monitored the player. Catalan sources report Barcelona allocated 130 million euros specifically for Alvarez after an initial 100 million euro proposal was rejected.

Matchday tension and missed training

Internal friction surrounding Alvarez intensified following comments made on 22 June after Argentina's World Cup victory against Austria, when the 26-year-old forward publicly stated a departure would help fulfil his ambition. Alvarez did not play in Atletico's opening fixture against Malaga and entered in the 66th minute during Sunday's 2-2 home draw against Villarreal. Sections of the home supporters booed Alvarez during warm-ups and on the pitch, after which the forward walked directly down the tunnel at the final whistle. On 26 August, Alvarez missed team training ahead of Atletico's league match against Sevilla due to what the club described as an indisposition. Since joining from Manchester City in 2024 for close to 85 million euros, Alvarez has recorded 49 goals and 17 assists in 107 matches for Atletico.

Manager perspectives ahead of the deadline

Atletico manager Diego Simeone has aligned with the board's refusal to sanction a sale, describing Alvarez as the squad's primary attacking asset and planning the team around him. Simeone informed the squad that transfer decisions remain strictly with club executives. At Barcelona, manager Hansi Flick confirmed agreement with Laporta and Deco regarding transfer priorities, noting that the squad is prepared to deploy internal solutions if an agreement for a central striker cannot be reached before the deadline closes.