
Atletico Madrid will not let forward Julian Alvarez leave this transfer window, coach Diego Simeone said on Saturday, despite interest from Barcelona and a rejected €150-million bid from Real Madrid in June.…
Atletico Madrid will not let forward Julian Alvarez leave this transfer window, coach Diego Simeone said on Saturday, despite interest from Barcelona and a rejected €150-million bid from Real Madrid in June. Atletico have also filed a FIFA complaint over Barcelona allegedly tapping up the Argentina international. Alvarez, 26, said during World Cup duty he believed 'a transfer is best for everyone' but did not name a preferred destination.
CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin told the club's channel: 'We don't want to transfer him… nor will we accept one for 150 million or 200 million.' Alvarez has scored 49 goals since joining from Manchester City and is due back at the squad in two days. Atletico start their La Liga campaign at home to Malaga on August 19.
The usual narrative is that a player wanting out always gets his way, or that a big enough bid forces any club to sell. Atletico's firm 'no', rejecting even €200 million, and the example of Antoine Griezmann's return to fan love show that football loyalty can still work both ways. The real test will be how Alvarez is treated by the stands when he next steps on the pitch in red and white. Will history repeat itself, or will the noise from Barcelona poison the well?
Sources (2): sportstar.thehindu.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.