Atletico Madrid has expressed surprise at reports suggesting the club encouraged Julian Alvarez to publicly announce his desire to leave for Barcelona. The Argentine striker made headlines during the World Cup when he stated that a transfer would be “the best thing for everyone” and that he wanted to fulfill his dream, fueling speculation about a potential move to Camp Nou. However, club officials have pushed back against claims that they had any hand in prompting these comments.
According to sources close to Atletico, the club’s contact with Alvarez following the domestic season’s conclusion was minimal. The forward departed for World Cup duty, with only routine communications between fitness staff and players competing in the tournament. Senior management at the club made no further direct involvement after the campaign ended, making suggestions of encouragement seem implausible to those within the organization.
Barcelona has made a formal bid of €100 million, structured across six installments, but Atletico immediately rejected the proposal. The Spanish champions remain resolute in their stance, showing little willingness to facilitate a deal with their La Liga rivals. Despite this resistance, Barcelona has not abandoned hope, banking on Alvarez’s own ambition to play for the club as a potential advantage in future negotiations.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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