Atlético de Madrid has made it clear that they’re not planning to let Julián Álvarez go in the upcoming transfer window. According to Marca, the Spanish club has set his release clause at 500 million euros—around 540 million dollars—a price tag that’s pretty much untouchable, even for giants like FC Barcelona, who had shown strong interest in the Argentine World Cup winner.

A wall no one’s getting through

That crazy figure is part of a clear plan: shut down any attempts to sign him, whether from La Liga or elsewhere in Europe. Julián Álvarez, who joined Atlético after his spell at Manchester City, had an incredible season at the Metropolitano, racking up 29 goals and 7 assists in 54 games. He made an instant impact, becoming a key piece in Diego Simeone’s squad and a fan favorite.

The interest from Barcelona, confirmed by the player’s agent Fernando Hidalgo, had sparked some buzz in Catalonia, especially with the club looking for someone to eventually take over from Robert Lewandowski. But the sky-high transfer fee, combined with Barça’s financial limitations, makes any deal impossible. “Barça likes Julián Álvarez? Well, I like Lamine Yamal,” joked Enrique Cerezo, Atlético’s president, putting the matter to rest.

English clubs are watching too

It’s not just Barça—clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal have also shown interest, but nothing concrete has come of it due to the massive clause. Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez ranks ninth on the list of the world’s most valuable footballers, with an estimated value of 144 million dollars, according to the CIES Football Observatory.

For now, all signs point to "La Araña" staying put at the Metropolitano. Atlético de Madrid isn’t just shielding him with a record-breaking clause—they’re betting on him as a cornerstone for their future. And with Julián happy in Madrid, it looks like he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.