Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has officially addressed the future of Julian Alvarez, confirming that the club has no intention of selling the Argentine forward this summer. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul ahead of a pre-season friendly against Manchester City, Simeone emphasized that the entire organization remains aligned in its commitment to keeping the player, effectively shutting down speculation regarding a potential departure.
The uncertainty surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner intensified during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the star publicly admitted his desire to move on from the club to fulfill his professional dreams. These comments came following Alvarez’s public demand to leave Atletico in the mixed zone after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He said (via GOAL) that the club’s stance remains firm despite the ongoing pressure from external suitors.
Barcelona are still keen on the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, and are reportedly willing to wait for Alvarez to hold talks with Simeone and the Atleti hierarchy. The Blaugrana club have reportedly seen an initial 100 million euro bid shot down by the Madrid side and have subsequently raised their offer to 120 million euros in an attempt to secure the forward’s services.
Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin previously expressed his displeasure regarding the situation. Gil Marin said to EFE (via ESPN) that the club was frustrated by the player’s conduct. He then went on to slam Barcelona for disrespecting Atletico by trying to ‘tap up’ a player who is under contract with the club until 2030. Despite this friction, the club maintains that Alvarez remains a vital part of their long-term project under Simeone’s leadership.
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