Atletico Madrid are insistent that Julian Alvarez won’t be leaving the club this summer, amid interest from FC Barcelona and Arsenal.
Atletico Madrid have attempted to put an end to speculation around the future of Julian Alvarez by insisting he won’t be leaving the club this summer, especially not to join FC Barcelona.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo told the media this week: “Let me insist: Julian is our player and will be our player next season.”
The club’s CEO Gil Marin was just as emphatic, saying: “My position is clear, the club’s position is clear. We’ve made it known to the player, his representatives, and the president of Barcelona.
“I have absolutely no doubt that Atleti is the right place in the world for Julian, and that Julian is the perfect centre-forward for Atletico Madrid. We want to keep him.
“I recently heard president Laporta say that the offer he made to Atletico Madrid wasn’t unlimited. My only response is that our answer [to Barcelona] is unlimited.
“We didn’t accept an offer of €100 million, and we will not accept one of €150 million or even €200 million for Julian Alvarez. We want to keep Julian.”
The Atletico chiefs are obviously largely responding to Barcelona’s interest, and it’s not impossible they might be a little more open to Arsenal’s pursuit of the player.
Media reports have repeatedly suggested that Atletico have no interest whatsoever in selling to their La Liga rivals, but that they might consider selling the striker overseas. Meanwhile, reports in England have suggested Alvarez is the club’s top priority target this summer.
Even so, the comments from Cerezo and Marin don’t read like the club are expecting Alvarez to leave for Arsenal in the coming months.
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- Arsenal player’s brother close to Crystal Palace moveArsenal defender Jurrien Timber’s twin brother Quinten is closing in on a move to Crystal Palace, according to a report from France.
- Arsenal transfer target now training aloneJulian Alvarez has missed team training with Atletico Madrid for the third day in a row, this time intending to train on his own.