Julián Alvarez misses third straight Atlético training session as transfer saga drags on

Julián Alvarez did not take part in Atlético Madrid's training session on Friday August 28, his third consecutive absence while his future hangs in the balance. The club's official explanation points to illness and discomfort, but the length of the episode makes the Argentine forward a near-certain absentee for the upcoming La Liga trip to face Sevilla at the Sánchez Pizjuán.

• The Argentine striker has now missed three straight training sessions with the first team.
• Atlético blame an illness that has lasted far longer than expected.
• Gil Marín launched a scathing attack on FC Barcelona and the player's agent.
• The club will consider a sale to Arsenal but never a transfer to Barcelona.
• The deadline for Julián Alvarez to communicate his stance expired this Friday August 28.

Three missed sessions put Julián Alvarez on track to sit out the Sevilla match

The absence of the Argentine international is becoming a genuine concern ahead of the Sevilla fixture. What started as a minor physical complaint has now stretched across three days of first-team work, an unusually long spell for a simple illness. Club sources confirmed that the player is still experiencing discomfort and trained away from his teammates.

With the match at the Sánchez Pizjuán fast approaching, the chances of Julián Alvarez being available look increasingly slim. The lack of training rhythm leaves Simeone with a major attacking headache and turns the forward into a significant doubt for the weekend.

Gil Marín blasts Barcelona and Julián Alvarez's agent over transfer saga

Atlético Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín did not hold back on Thursday at the Grimaldo Forum in Monaco. Clearly frustrated with how the situation has developed, he pointed the finger directly at FC Barcelona and Fernando Hidalgo, the player's representative, accusing them of misleading and confusing the striker.

Julián Alvarez is really struggling because there have been people who set out to deceive and confuse him. I regret it deeply because I know him, we have worked together for a long time, he is a great person, a great professional and a great footballer, completely confused and going through a very, very difficult personal and professional moment.

Speaking to Movistar, the Atlético chief expressed his disgust at the dishonesty surrounding the case. He made it clear the club wants the player to stay, while admitting that a solution could be explored if the forward himself felt his continued presence in Madrid was no longer viable.

Atlético's hard line on any potential Julián Alvarez transfer

The message from the club could hardly be clearer: Julián Alvarez will not be sold to FC Barcelona. Gil Marín repeated that stance without hesitation in Monaco, underlining that no matter how much pressure builds, the Catalan club is simply not an option.

The official position blends two messages. On one side, the stated desire for the Argentine to remain at the club and keep competing at the highest level. On the other, a willingness to examine an alternative if the player decides the relationship is broken. In that scenario, Arsenal stands out as the only feasible destination.

Barcelona's offer and the release clause blocking any deal

Barcelona submitted a proposal worth one hundred million euros at the end of May, structured across six payments. Atlético rejected the bid and referred the Catalan side to the player's release clause of five hundred million euros, a figure that makes any conventional negotiation impossible.

That contractual protection explains why Atlético feel in control of the situation. Even with the player missing training sessions, the room to force a move in the direction of Barcelona is virtually non-existent without an extraordinary financial outlay.

The Friday deadline and the decision still pending from Julián Alvarez

Friday August 28 was marked as the deadline for the forward to communicate his intentions. The choice is stark: keep wearing the Atlético shirt or accept a departure with Arsenal as the only exit route sanctioned by the club.

While a final resolution remains pending, Simeone's squad prepares for its next league fixture without one of its main attacking references. A sense of uncertainty surrounds the dressing room as the club waits for an answer that will shape sporting planning for the rest of the season.