Atletico Madrid reject Julian Alvarez’s Barcelona wish after Simeone talks

Atletico Madrid have rejected Julian Alvarez’s request to join Barcelona after the Argentina striker held talks with manager Diego Simeone over his future.

Alvarez, 26, met Simeone before training on Wednesday alongside his agents, Fernando Hidalgo and Sergio Diaz, who are currently in Madrid to resolve the player’s situation.

During the meeting, Alvarez made clear his desire to fulfil a long-held ambition by moving to Barcelona. The forward had previously hinted publicly at that wish during the World Cup.

However, Simeone firmly rejected the request and backed Atletico’s position, with the club’s administration led by chief executive Gil Marin determined to keep their leading player.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the meeting represents only the beginning of a situation that Barcelona believes will not continue for long. The Catalan club considers the responsibility for the next move to rest with Alvarez.

The Argentina international warned on Monday that he was feeling frustrated and distressed by the situation. His comments were interpreted as a suggestion that he could take a decisive step if the current stand-off continues.

Alvarez now faces two possible courses of action. He could take the matter further by speaking publicly or issuing an official statement requesting a transfer. Alternatively, he could accept Atletico’s decision and abandon his ambition to join Barcelona, forcing the Catalan club to look for another option.

Sources at Atletico Madrid said the conversation between Alvarez and Simeone was friendly. The manager told the striker that he was counting on him for next season, while also making clear that the final decision rested with the club’s administration.

The disagreement comes after a previous understanding between Gil Marin and Simeone. At a meeting in February, the chief executive reportedly promised the manager that the player would be allowed to leave if a convincing offer arrived.

Barcelona have since made an offer worth 100m euros for Alvarez. Despite that proposal, Gil Marin is not planning to enter negotiations with Barcelona because of his firm opposition to allowing the forward to move to the Catalan club.

That refusal has increased Alvarez’s anger and leaves Barcelona facing an important decision over how far it is prepared to pursue the transfer. The club must now wait to see whether the player is willing to challenge Atletico’s position publicly or whether he will remain at the Madrid side and continue under Simeone.

For Atletico, the stance is clear: the club does not intend to discuss Alvarez’s departure with Barcelona, regardless of the value of the offer. The next development therefore depends largely on the striker and whether he chooses to press for the move or accept that his childhood dream will not be fulfilled this summer.