Atletico Madrid say they will not enter into negotiations with Barcelona for striker Julian Alvarez, who is considering a move to Arsenal. Alvarez did not train on Wednesday and Thursday because of illness after a poor night's sleep on Tuesday, not because of anything related to his future. The 26-year-old wants to join Barcelona, who again went public with their desire to sign him on Wednesday in an interview with president Joan Laporta.
However, Atletico have now publicly said they won't engage with Barcelona over a transfer for Alvarez. "Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner," the club said on Thursday. "We fully stand behind the club's previously communicated position that FC Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, as a result, there will not be any negotiation and there is zero consideration of an Alvarez transfer to Barcelona.
"Atletico de Madrid trust that our player will understand the decision and will remain focused on helping the club achieve its goals, just as he has done during the two seasons he has been defending our colours." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Marca, Spain's biggest sports newspaper, had previously received on-the-record quotes from the club saying: "The player is being portrayed as the victim, but we are the only victims in this case. "[Barcelona] have harmed us both financially and socially. There is a zero-per-cent chance of selling him to Barcelona - it's not about money, it's about dignity." The situation around Alvarez's future has become "extremely tense", according to Atletico expert and journalist Ruben Uria.
Alvarez's public desire to leave has made him so unpopular with the club's supporters that they booed him off the pitch after their 2-2 draw with Villarreal on Sunday and he is understood to be starting to consider whether a potential move to Arsenal would be right for him. Uria now believes the striker has two options. He said: "My interpretation of the statement is that Atletico is making it public that it will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances, and that this is not only the CEO's position, but also that of the club and, above all, its majority shareholder, Apollo, one of the largest private equity funds in the world.
It's a clear message for Julian: 'Either you go to London, or you stay. We will never negotiate with Barcelona.' It's very clear, Julian decides. London or staying in Madrid." As far as Arsenal are concerned, nothing has changed.
They still believe signing Alvarez is very unlikely before the deadline and would need strong encouragement from the player to start negotiations with Atletico. There is ongoing dialogue between Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin, but this has been the case all summer. They used to work together at Atletico Madrid and remain close.
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