Atletico Madrid have officially ruled out the possibility of negotiating the transfer of Argentina striker Julian Alvarez to Barcelona.
The Spanish club said its Board of Directors has unanimously backed the decision not to enter talks with Barcelona over the forward.
In a statement, Atletico said it remains open to normal transfer discussions with other clubs but insisted that such negotiations must be conducted professionally and with respect between the teams.
The club, however, claimed Barcelona had not met those standards in its approach for Alvarez. As a result, Atletico said there have been no negotiations between the two clubs, and there will be none regarding the player’s transfer.
“Atletico Madrid are open to the usual negotiations that take place in the transfer market, but always in an ethical and professional manner and with respect between clubs,” the club said.
The statement added that the Board fully supports the position already communicated by Atletico and expects Alvarez to respect the club’s decision.
Atletico also expressed confidence that the 26-year-old striker will remain focused on his responsibilities and continue working to help the club achieve its targets.
The Argentine joined Atletico from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 and has since become an important member of Diego Simeone’s squad.
His performances have made him one of the club’s key attacking players and attracted interest from several major European clubs.
Barcelona’s reported interest in Alvarez comes as the Catalan club continues to look at options to strengthen its attack.
However, Atletico’s latest statement appears to close the door on any move involving the striker, at least through direct negotiations between the two clubs.
Alvarez still has a long-term contract with Atletico, meaning Barcelona would need to explore other options if the Spanish club maintains its position.
