Atletico Madrid halt Julian Alvarez talks with Barcelona over conduct concerns
Atletico Madrid’s board has unanimously ruled out a sale of Julian Alvarez to Barcelona, citing a lack of professional and ethical conduct, though the club remains open to other offers.
Atletico Madrid have officially ended negotiations for striker Julian Alvarez with Barcelona, with the club’s board of directors unanimously supporting the decision to halt talks. In a statement issued on Thursday, the board confirmed that there has been and will be no negotiation with their La Liga rivals regarding the Argentina international’s transfer.
The decision follows a reported offer of approximately 100 million euros ($116m) from Barcelona, a sum that Atletico rejected based on conduct rather than price. The club stated that Barcelona failed to meet the requirements for professional, ethical, and respectful conduct, a position that led Atletico to previously report the Catalan side to FIFA and the Spanish football federation.
Despite closing the door on Barcelona, Atletico indicated it remains open to standard transfer market negotiations with other suitors. Arsenal has been linked to the 26-year-old in recent days, though no formal offer or negotiation stage has been confirmed by either club. The statement noted that Atletico is convinced Alvarez will understand the decision and focus on helping the club achieve its objectives.
The transfer saga has added to a turbulent period for Alvarez, who missed training for the second consecutive day on Wednesday due to a reported illness. This absence followed a 2-2 draw against Villarreal on Sunday, during which the forward was reportedly jeered by the club’s own supporters.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta had stated the day before the Atletico announcement that his club remained hopeful of signing Alvarez before the transfer window closes. The Spanish champions are keen to strengthen their attack following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, making Alvarez their prime target.
Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in 2024 in a deal worth up to 95 million euros ($111m). During the World Cup in July, he suggested that a transfer would be “best” for everyone involved, a comment that has fuelled speculation about his future at the club.
