Barcelona puts Julian Alvarez move into the past

WATCH Julian Alvarez for Atletico Madrid and EVERY LaLiga LIVE on beIN SPORTS | Sign up here and save up to $60 on our Annual Pass Now | AU | NZ

Barca reportedly saw an offer of more than €100 million ($162.1 million) rejected by Atleti, which later revealed ir would refuse to negotiate with its rival because of the Blaugrana's public pursuit of the Argentina international.

Real Madrid's €150 million ($243.1 million) bid was also rejected by Atleti, while reports suggested Alvarez turned down interest from Premier League side Arsenal.

Alvarez has featured four times for Diego Simeone's side this term, with only one of those appearances coming as a starter, registering just one assist across all competitions.

The 26-year-old made his return from a brief injury in Atleti's Madrid derby before joining up with the Argentina national team.

Barca managed to sign Gabriel Jesus late on in the window after the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, and Deco revealed any immediate interest in Alvarez is now over.

"Julian Alvarez is the past," Deco said at the Portugal Football Summit.

"Barcelona now have to look forward. It wasn't possible in the end. We made an offer. [Atleti] said they would not transfer him and we had to look for other solutions.

"I hope things go well for him and that he can help his club."

Barca has also been linked with a move for 15-year-old Manchester United prospect JJ Gabriel in recent weeks.

Widespread reports emerged stating Gabriel had asked to leave United, with Barca and Madrid among the teams said to be monitoring the situation.

Deco, however, has put an end to the speculation, saying: "There's nothing to say about this boy.

"It's normal that players are linked with us. It always happens. There's a huge market for that with a lot of interests involved, even when [players] are young.

"But we are not interested in any player in his situation. I'm not sure what's happening, and if he's still a Manchester United player. We are not involved in that.

"First of all, we need to understand how the situation is before we try to do something. To speak about young, teenage players, it is not our business."