Atletico Madrid Rules Out Barcelona Transfer for Julian Alvarez While Open to Other Bids

Julian Alvarez missed training for Atletico Madrid for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, amid mounting speculation over his future. The Atletico board issued a unanimous statement expressing full support for the club's decision to completely rule out any negotiations with Barcelona regarding the striker's transfer.

Despite closing the door on Barcelona, the club indicated they remain open to standard transfer market approaches, with Arsenal recently linked to the Argentina international. The board stated that there has not been and will not be any discussion with Barcelona, accusing the Spanish champions of failing to meet professional, ethical, and respectful transfer requirements. Previously, Atletico reported Barcelona to FIFA and the Spanish football federation over their pursuit of the player.

The Rojiblancos expressed confidence that Alvarez will understand the decision and refocus on helping the club achieve its goals. The forward missed Wednesday's session due to a reported illness, following an incident on Sunday where he was jeered by fans during a 2-2 La Liga draw against Villarreal.

In July during the World Cup, Alvarez stated that a transfer would be best for everyone. Meanwhile, Barcelona President Joan Laporta maintained that his club remains hopeful of securing the 2022 World Cup winner before the window closes, noting an active offer of approximately 100 million euros ($116m). Barcelona have prioritized Alvarez to strengthen their attack following the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Alvarez originally moved to Atletico from Manchester City in 2024 in a transfer valued at up to 95 million euros ($111m).