Atlético Madrid chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín announced on Thursday that Argentina forward Julián Álvarez will not be sold to Barcelona, effectively shutting down the primary transfer saga of the European summer window, according to The Associated Press.
Board Unanimously Rejects Barcelona Pursuit
The Atlético Madrid board of directors released a formal statement on Thursday confirming unanimous support for the club’s refusal to negotiate a transfer for Álvarez.
“Atlético Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner,” the statement read as reported by The Associated Press. “We fully stand behind the club’s previously communicated position that Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, as a result, there will not be any negotiation and there is zero consideration of an Alvarez transfer to Barcelona.”
Gil Marín Criticizes Barcelona and Player Management
Following the club statement, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín spoke to Movistar to criticize Barcelona’s handling of the situation. The chief executive stated that external parties were deceiving and confusing the 26-year-old striker.
“He’s a great professional and player, and he’s very confused and going through a very difficult situation at a personal and professional level,” Gil Marín told Movistar, as cited by The Associated Press. “We are disgusted by the falsehood, by the lack of ethics, of transparency, of professionalism. We must insist that we are not going to negotiate with Barcelona under no circumstances.”
Álvarez carries a buyout clause valued at 500 million euros ($582 million).
Player Status and Recent Matches
Despite interest from rival clubs, Atlético Madrid expressed confidence that the player will realign his focus with club objectives. “Atlético Madrid trust that our player will understand the decision and will remain focused on helping the club achieve its goals, just as he has done during the two seasons he has been defending our colors,” the club stated via The Associated Press.
The tension has already impacted Álvarez’s immediate standing with the squad. The striker was omitted from the starting lineup for the Spanish league opener and faced jeers from home supporters when he entered the match as a substitute. Álvarez subsequently missed training on Wednesday, occurring on the same day Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly maintained that his club retained an active offer and that the player desired a move to Catalonia.
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