In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, the club’s Board of Directors expressed unanimous support for the decision not to negotiate with the Catalan side.
Official Statement
The Board declared: “The members of Atlético Madrid’s Board of Directors have unanimously expressed their full support for the club’s decision not to negotiate the transfer of Julián Álvarez to FC Barcelona.
“Atlético Madrid is open to negotiations that are part of the transfer market, but always in an ethical and professional manner and with respect between clubs. We fully support the position previously communicated by the club that FC Barcelona have not met these requirements and, as a result, there have been no negotiations, nor will there be any negotiations with them regarding the transfer of Julián Álvarez.”
The statement added that the club is convinced Álvarez will understand the decision and continue to focus on helping Atlético achieve its objectives, as he has done during his two seasons at the club.
Context of the Dispute
The announcement follows weeks of intense speculation surrounding Álvarez’s future. Barcelona president Joan Laporta had publicly reiterated his club’s interest and indicated that a substantial offer remained on the table. Atlético, however, have maintained that Barcelona’s approach failed to meet the standards of professional and respectful conduct expected in transfer dealings.
Atlético have previously described the situation as a matter of “dignity” rather than money and have insisted there is zero chance of the player joining their La Liga rivals.
Looking Ahead
While the door remains closed to Barcelona, Atlético have signalled that they remain open to ethical and professional negotiations with other clubs. Álvarez, who joined the Madrid side from Manchester City in 2024, remains under contract until 2030 and is expected to continue representing the club as the transfer window enters its final days.