Atletico Madrid have publicly shut the door on any move for Julian Alvarez to Barcelona, saying there is a "0% chance" of the 26-year-old being sold as the summer transfer dispute continues to escalate.
The latest exchange came after Barcelona president Joan Laporta published a video on Wednesday saying Barcelona's €100m offer remained on the table. Atletico's response was immediate and unusually forceful, with the club insisting the issue is not about money and accusing Barca of causing damage on both an economic and social level.
"This is not about money, it's about dignity," Atletico said. "The player is being victimised, but the only victim in the Julian case is us." The club also said there was "a campaign of many lies and half-truths" and added: "There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca."
Why the situation has become so tense
Alvarez has been the subject of intense transfer speculation throughout the summer, with Atletico and Barcelona now locked in a public disagreement over his future. The Argentina forward joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024, and the move has not stopped rival clubs from circling.
Arsenal are also interested in Alvarez, and sources close to the situation say he still wants to stay in Spain. That keeps the picture complicated for Atletico, Barcelona and the Gunners alike, especially with the player already at the centre of a growing story that has moved beyond normal transfer talk.
What happened on and after Sunday
The backdrop to the dispute has only added more noise. On Sunday, Alvarez was booed by Atletico supporters during their draw with Villarreal. He came on in the 66th minute, was jeered while warming up and headed straight down the tunnel at full-time after the match.
By Wednesday, he had missed training, with reports saying he was unwell. Then on Thursday, Hansi Flick declined to discuss Alvarez directly before Barcelona's match against Athletic Club, saying: "I only want to speak about the situation of the club."
For now, Atletico's stance is clear: the club does not intend to sell. But with Barcelona continuing to push its position and other clubs monitoring the situation, this is one of the summer's biggest transfer stories that is still very much alive.
