Atletico Madrid CEO Gil Marin has issued a stern rebuke of Barcelona, accusing the club of lacking professionalism and transparency in their pursuit of striker Julian Alvarez. Expressing his frustration, Marin declared, “We are disgusted by the lies,” as the ongoing transfer saga continues to create friction between the two La Liga rivals. Despite Alvarez signaling a desire to move to the Camp Nou, Atletico has remained firm in its refusal to facilitate a transfer to a direct competitor.
The 26-year-old forward, who joined Atletico from Manchester City in the summer of 2024, is currently under contract at the Wanda Metropolitano until 2030. Over his first two seasons, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has recorded 49 goals and 17 assists across 106 appearances. Reports from ESPN indicate that Atletico recently rejected a bid of approximately €100 million from Barcelona for the player, a move that followed public comments from Barcelona president Joan Laporta regarding their interest.
On the pitch, Alvarez made his season debut as a second-half substitute during Atletico’s 2-2 draw against Villarreal. In that match, Giuliano Simeone provided an assist for the opening goal before scoring an 85th-minute equalizer to secure a point. Diego Simeone’s squad, which opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malaga, is now preparing for an away fixture against Sevilla on Saturday, August 29.
Barcelona, meanwhile, continues its own domestic schedule with a home match against Athletic Club on August 27, followed by a home game against Rayo Vallecano on Monday, August 30. While interest in Alvarez has also been linked to Arsenal, Atletico’s leadership remains committed to retaining the striker despite the intense pressure from the Catalan side. The report also notes that as per ESPN, Barca had an offer of around €100 million for Alvarez rejected by Atletico. The report also notes that next take on Sevilla away on Saturday (August 29) as they seek a return to winning ways following a draw with the Yellow Submarine.
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