Atletico Madrid rejects Barcelona bid for Julian Alvarez in open-ended stance
CEO Gil Marin asserts the club’s position is not for sale, dismissing specific financial thresholds and criticising external influence on sporting strategy.
Atletico Madrid has formally rejected Barcelona’s interest in forward Julian Alvarez, with CEO Gil Marin declaring that the club’s position on the transfer is “open-ended.” In a statement provided to EFE, Marin confirmed that the club has no intention of selling the player, regardless of the financial offer presented by the Catalan side.
Marin’s comments directly address claims made by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who had previously stated that Barca’s offer was not unlimited. Marin countered this by asserting that Atletico’s refusal is absolute, noting that the club did not accept a bid of €100 million and would not accept offers of €150 million or €200 million. This institutional stance prioritises the club’s long-term sporting values over immediate financial gain.
The transfer dispute has been ongoing since Alvarez indicated his desire to leave the club during the World Cup. Marin emphasised that the club’s will has been clearly communicated to the player, his agent, and the Barcelona president. He described Alvarez as a “perfect striker” for Atletico, arguing that the club is the appropriate environment for the forward to continue developing.
Beyond the financial aspects, Marin offered a critique of the player’s recent professional guidance. He suggested that Alvarez has not had the best advisors around him regarding his career in recent months. The CEO stated that the club intends to support the player to ensure he reaches his full potential, which is necessary for Atletico to remain competitive among Europe’s elite teams.
Marin also broadened his criticism to include other clubs and their affiliated media, accusing them of attempting to dictate Atletico’s sporting strategy. He argued that these external forces aim to divide the team, leveraging their greater power to disrespect the club’s autonomy. Marin stressed that while Atletico may not be as powerful as its rivals, it possesses distinct values that fans will not allow to be corrupted.
The statement serves to consolidate the club’s internal unity while signalling to Barcelona that the transfer window for Alvarez may be closing. As the club maintains its refusal to budge, Alvarez faces the prospect of remaining at Atletico Madrid despite his earlier requests to move.
