Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have taken opposing positions over the future of Julian Alvarez, with the Catalan club reaffirming its interest in the Argentina international while Atletico insists there is no possibility of selling the striker to their La Liga rivals.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta renewed his club’s interest in Alvarez on Wednesday, saying the Spanish giants remain willing to complete a deal if Atletico are prepared to negotiate.
Laporta’s comments, reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, came after Barcelona reportedly submitted an offer for the 26-year-old forward.
“We are still very interested in Julian Alvarez,” Laporta said, adding that Barcelona would like Atletico to accept their proposal while maintaining respect for the Madrid club.
The Barcelona president also disclosed that he had contacted Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin to reaffirm the offer.
According to Laporta, Barcelona received indications that Atletico could be open to selling Alvarez, prompting the Catalan club to keep its proposal on the table.
He said the offer would remain available until the end of the transfer window.
Atletico rejects Barcelona approach
Atletico Madrid, however, has strongly rejected the possibility of allowing Alvarez to join Barcelona.
In a statement responding to the situation, the Madrid club said it had suffered both financial and reputational damage from the transfer controversy.
Atletico also dismissed the idea that the disagreement was simply about the financial value of the proposed deal.
The club insisted that there was “0% chance” of Alvarez being sold to Barcelona and described the dispute as a matter of dignity rather than money.
Atletico further accused unnamed parties of spreading what it described as false claims and half-truths surrounding the striker’s situation.
The contrasting statements have left Alvarez’s transfer situation at an impasse, with Barcelona maintaining that it wants the player and is prepared to negotiate, while Atletico publicly insists that it will not sell him to the Catalan club.