Julian Alvarez future clouded as Atletico de Madrid shut out Barcelona

Atletico de Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin says the club will not negotiate with Barcelona over a potential transfer for Julian Alvarez, insisting the Catalan club will “never” be considered as an option for the Argentina striker.

Alvarez is reportedly keen to move to Barcelona, but Atletico’s board is strongly opposed to the possibility and has unanimously backed the club’s decision to refuse talks.

Gil Marin said the 25-year-old was going through a difficult period because people had misled him and caused confusion over his future.

“Julian Alvarez is really in a bad way because there are people who have taken it upon themselves to deceive and confuse him,” Gil Marin told Movistar Plus Deportes on Thursday evening while attending the Champions League draw ceremony.

He added: “We will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances. We are disgusted by falsehood and a lack of ethics.”

Gil Marin also made clear that Atletico would look for an alternative if Alvarez no longer wanted to remain at the club, but ruled out Barcelona as a destination.

“If he does not want to continue at Atletico, we will look for a replacement, but Barcelona will never, ever be an option,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Atletico issued a statement confirming that every member of its board supported the club’s position on Alvarez.

“The members of the Atletico de Madrid board of directors unanimously expressed their full support for the club’s decision not to negotiate Julian Alvarez’s transfer to Barcelona,” the statement said.

The club said it remained willing to engage in the normal transfer-market discussions, but only if they were conducted ethically and professionally and based on mutual respect between the two clubs.

“Atletico de Madrid is open to the usual negotiations in the transfer market, but always in an ethical and professional manner, with mutual respect between the two clubs,” the statement continued.

“We fully support the position previously announced by the club that Barcelona have not complied with these conditions. Therefore, there have not been and will not be any negotiations with them over the transfer of Julian Alvarez.”

Atletico also expressed confidence that Alvarez would understand the decision and continue to focus on helping the club achieve its objectives.

“Atletico de Madrid trusts that our player will understand the decision and will focus on working to the best of his ability to help the club achieve its goals, as he has already done during the two seasons in which he has defended our colours,” the club added.

The Argentina international has spent the past two seasons with Atletico de Madrid. His reported wish to join Barcelona has intensified scrutiny over his future, but the Spanish club’s leadership has made clear that it will not enter discussions with Barcelona while maintaining its current position.