Atletico Madrid tell Barcelona there is '0% chance' of signing Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid have delivered a strong response to Barcelona and president Joan Laporta, stating there is absolutely zero chance of Julian Alvarez being sold to the Catalan club. The reaction comes after Laporta once again said in a video that the club's €100m offer for the Argentine forward remains on the table. The dispute has become one of the biggest talking points of the final days of the transfer window.

• Atletico insist there is a 0% chance of selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona.
• Laporta says Barcelona's €100m bid for the Argentine forward is still valid.
• Atletico accuse rivals of a smear campaign and say the club is the only victim.
• Arsenal remain interested in Alvarez but the player reportedly wants to stay in Spain.
• Atletico fans booed Alvarez during the draw against Villarreal.

Atletico respond to Laporta: dignity before money

Laporta's latest video, published on Wednesday, has caused anger inside the Metropolitano offices. The Barcelona president said his club had great respect for Atletico but stressed that the offer presented earlier in the summer was still available. Atletico's response did not take long to arrive.

This is not about money, it's about dignity. The player is being victimised, but the only victim in the Julian case is us. They have harmed us economically and socially. There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca.

Atletico also condemned what they describe as a campaign of lies and half-truths around the club, insisting that they are the ones paying the price. The relationship between the two boards has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, with increasingly complicated negotiations and repeated public disagreements.

Atletico fans turn on Julian Alvarez

While the boardroom battle intensifies, there has also been visible tension on the pitch. During Sunday's draw with Villarreal, Alvarez was jeered by a section of the crowd while warming up. The boos grew louder when he entered the match in the 66th minute before the forward walked straight down the tunnel at full-time instead of acknowledging the supporters.

Diego Simeone later explained that the decision for Alvarez to head directly to the dressing room had been agreed by the club in advance. The measure was designed to avoid a bigger confrontation with a fanbase split between those who support the player and those who question his apparent desire to leave.

Arsenal watch and wait for the Argentine forward

Amid this Spanish battle, Arsenal remain interested in Julian Alvarez. The forward is viewed as the Gunners' dream transfer target, although the London club are becoming increasingly realistic about their chances of signing him before next week's deadline. Arsenal are currently sitting back and watching the situation unfold between Atletico, Barcelona and the player.

Sources close to the negotiations say Alvarez still wants to remain in Spain, which makes any switch to the Premier League significantly more complicated. The striker had already hinted at his intentions in June when he said after an Argentina match that a transfer would be the best outcome for everyone and that he wanted to fulfil his dream. Those comments directly contradicted Atletico's official position.

A timeline of the saga: bids, rejections and Real Madrid lurking

Barcelona's interest in Julian Alvarez is not new. The first offer from the Catalan club arrived in May and was met with a firm response from Atletico, who published a series of social media posts mocking Barcelona's pursuit and describing themselves as victims of a smear campaign. The Argentine had travelled to the World Cup with his future already a major talking point.

In June, Real Madrid entered the picture with a €150m offer after Florentino Perez had promised supporters he would bring in a Galactico. That bid was also rejected. Real Madrid pointed to Alvarez's €500m release clause and claimed Atletico had expressed gratitude for the proposal, a version Atletico denied with more humorous social media posts.

Atletico's stance on the financial front has been unwavering. Chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin said the club would not sell Alvarez even for €200m. That declaration leaves little room for doubt and sits awkwardly alongside the player's own suggestion that he is open to a move.

Barcelona's search for a long-term Number 9

Barcelona's renewed interest is driven by a clear sporting need. Robert Lewandowski's departure left a significant gap in attack and the club's sporting direction sees Julian Alvarez as the ideal long-term solution. His movement, goalscoring record and elite experience fit perfectly with Hansi Flick's project.

Asked about the Argentine before Barcelona's match against Athletic Club, the German coach declined to discuss individual names. Flick said he only wanted to talk about the situation at his own club. That cautious response contrasts sharply with Laporta's much more public approach to the transfer saga.

With deadline day set for 1 September, the war of words continues and the future of the Argentina World Cup winner remains one of the biggest unresolved stories of the European summer. Alvarez, who scored 20 goals and provided nine assists for Atletico Madrid last season, holds the key to a finale nobody can confidently predict.