Atlético de Madrid Hardens Its Stance on Julián Álvarez

With the transfer window closing in, Atlético de Madrid has decided to raise the stakes and make it clear that it is not willing to facilitate a potential move for Julián Álvarez to FC Barcelona.

Álvarez's absence from Wednesday's training session added another chapter to a saga that has generated speculation for months. The Madrid club reported that the forward missed the session due to feeling unwell after a difficult night, but there is a belief within the club that the situation surrounding the player is connected to pressure from his representatives and Barcelona.

According to information published by Marca and also reported by Cadena SER, Atlético believes the latest developments could be added to the actions the club has already filed with the RFEF. The Madrid side's position remains that it does not want to negotiate with Barça, and it now believes the dispute has already had significant consequences for the club.

Barcelona Remains Interested, but Atlético Does Not Want to Negotiate

The dispute between the two clubs is nothing new. Barcelona had already submitted a proposal worth around $116 million, to be paid in several installments, but the offer was rejected by Atlético, which referred to the more than $582 million release clause included in Álvarez's contract.

The Argentine forward is under contract with the Madrid side until June 2030, giving Atlético a strong contractual position. The club has also insisted throughout the summer that Álvarez remains part of its sporting plans.

Recent comments from Joan Laporta have done little to ease the tension. The Barcelona president once again acknowledged the club's interest in Álvarez and said the offer remains on the table, despite previous reports suggesting there had been a deadline to try to complete the deal.

Atlético Believes the Julián Álvarez Saga Has Caused Losses

The frustration at Atlético de Madrid goes beyond the possibility of Julián Álvarez leaving the club. According to Marca, sources within the club believe the institution has suffered financial, sporting and reputational damage during the months of uncertainty surrounding the Argentine forward.

The club's position was summed up in a blunt statement: “The player is being portrayed as the victim, but the only victim in the Julián case is us.”

Atlético also considers the role of Julián Álvarez's representatives to be significant, particularly after the player rejected a renewal proposal that, according to the published information, would have substantially improved his financial terms.

Álvarez's absence from Wednesday's training session represents another episode the club does not want to overlook. Although it was officially attributed to feeling unwell, the club believes the latest developments could be relevant to the case it intends to expand before the appropriate authorities.

“0%”: Atlético Rules Out Selling Julián Álvarez to Barça

The strongest statement attributed to Atlético sources perfectly summarizes the current state of the negotiations: “There is a 0% chance of selling him to Barcelona.”

In this case, Atlético believes the dispute has reached a point where it is no longer solely about money. According to the same information published by Marca, the club maintains that “this is not about money, it is about dignity.”

The club has also sought to separate its institutional position from the player's condition. Following his absence from training, Atlético has made its medical staff available to Álvarez and hopes he can recover and return to training with his teammates.