Atletico Madrid: “We are the victims, there is a 0% chance of selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona. Dignity is at stake”
Atlético Madrid take a hard line as they attack Barcelona: next year, la Araña will not wear the blaugrana shirt.
No holding back. Atletico Madrid are having none of it and have launched a direct attack on Barcelona, who have spent months trying to force through a move for the Argentine forward Julian Alvarez: "The player is being made out to be the victim, but the only victim in the Julián case is us," they said in a statement published by Marca , "They have harmed us economically and socially. There is a 0% chance of selling him to Barça. This situation is not about money, it is about dignity. There is a 0% chance of selling him to Barça."
They then concluded: "There is a campaign built on many lies and half-truths. The only ones paying for this are Atlético."
Barcelona and agent Alvarez reported
According to Marca Atlético Madrid will keep defending their interests, so they will update the complaint already filed to include everything Barcelona and Julián Alvarez's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, have been doing, with the latter working for months to engineer the player's departure. The former Manchester City player turned down the contract renewal offer last March that would have made him the highest-paid player, taking his salary from €7 million to €10 million, and also refused to meet the deadline set by the club's hierarchy: an offer of €150 million (excluding commissions) that should have arrived by 20 June. It never reached the offices of an Atlético side who have now decided they have had enough of the Julián case.
Alvarez “plays” with mental health
Atletico Madrid, Marca writes, will continue to support the forward with their medical services at a time when he is emotionally shaken by the situation that has arisen. But they also consider it unacceptable to "play" with issues as delicate as mental health and problems such as anxiety or depression.
Barcelona do not let up
Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke again today on the club's official channels about Julian Alvarez: "We are very interested in the player and have made an offer with great respect for Atletico Madrid, trusting that it will be accepted. We know that, if they were available to discuss the player, we would be willing to buy him starting again from the offer we have already made, which remains valid until the final day of the transfer window".
