Atletico Madrid furious as they rule out selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona this summer

Atletico Madrid have hit back at Barcelona's pursuit of Julian Alvarez and stated there is a 'zero per cent chance' the Argentine forward will move to the Catalan club this summer. The Madrid side has branded itself the 'only victim' in a saga it says has damaged the club both financially and socially. The furious response came after Alvarez was booed by sections of the Metropolitano crowd during Sunday's draw with Villarreal and after Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly confirmed his wish to sign the player.

• Atletico insist there is 'zero per cent chance' of selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona.
• The club accuses Barcelona and Alvarez's representatives of running a campaign of 'lies and half-truths'.
• Alvarez prefers a move to Barcelona, but Arsenal are still working on a potential late deal.
• Atletico want the striker's future resolved by Friday.
• Barcelona's only formal offer so far was around €100m, well below Atletico's valuation.

Atletico's angry statement on the Julian Alvarez transfer saga

Atletico Madrid have responded forcefully to Laporta's comments, in which the Barcelona president confirmed his club's interest in the Argentina international and encouraged Atletico to accept their offer. The Madrid club, speaking through the Spanish outlet Marca, accused both Barcelona and the player's representatives of orchestrating a 'campaign of lies and half-truths'.

The player is being portrayed as a victim, but the only victims in the Julian case are us. They have harmed us economically and socially. There is zero per cent chance of selling him to Barca.

Atletico went further, insisting the dispute 'is not about money, it is about dignity'. The club believes a narrative has been built to paint it as the villain of the story and open the door for Alvarez to leave. From Atletico's perspective, the only side paying the price is the club itself.

Julian Alvarez booed and absent from Wednesday training

The 26-year-old forward was jeered by a section of supporters when he came on as a substitute in Sunday's draw against Villarreal. Alvarez, who has made clear he would like to join Barcelona, did not train with his teammates on Wednesday. Atletico put the absence down to illness.

The club is keen to draw a line under the situation and has set Friday as the target date for resolving the striker's future. Atletico want Alvarez fit and available for Saturday's LaLiga trip to Sevilla, a match that could test the mood in the dressing room and the stands.

Barcelona's €100m offer and Atletico's €150m asking price

Barcelona's only formal bid so far has been in the region of €100m. Atletico could be prepared to listen to offers around €150m, a figure the Catalan club is not believed to have the budget to meet. Alvarez is under contract at the Metropolitano until 2030, which gives Atletico a powerful hand in any negotiation and little pressure to sell.

Arsenal still watching Julian Alvarez as deadline day approaches

Arsenal have not abandoned their interest in the forward and continue to work on a possible deal with one week remaining in the transfer window. The London club knows Alvarez's preference is to join Barcelona but believes Atletico could still sell if an acceptable offer arrives before the end of the week.

One option being discussed is to include another forward in the deal to reduce the cash required. Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus are among the names that could feature in a player-plus-cash proposal. Mikel Arteta wants to build his attack around the former Manchester City man and sees him as the kind of signing that would elevate Arsenal's title ambitions.

What Atletico, Barcelona and Arsenal have at stake in the final days of the window

The outcome of the Julian Alvarez saga will shape the short-term future of all three clubs involved. Atletico are fighting to protect a sporting project built around the Argentine striker and to restore calm after a turbulent few days. Barcelona want a marquee attacking addition but their financial limits leave them short of Atletico's asking price. Arsenal, meanwhile, see Alvarez as the proven goalscorer who could turn a promising side into genuine title challengers.

W ith the transfer deadline approaching, Atletico's Friday target gives the saga a clear window for resolution. Until then, attention shifts to Saturday's trip to Sevilla in LaLiga, where Alvarez's involvement in the squad will offer the first real clue about how this standoff is likely to end. For now, Atletico's message could not be clearer: they do not intend to sell, and certainly not to Barcelona.