Atlético Madrid Reject €200M Valuation for Julián Alvarez Amid Barcelona Interest

Atlético Madrid chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has categorically ruled out selling striker Julián Alvarez, declaring that the Spanish club would refuse offers as high as €200 million despite persistent transfer pursuit from FC Barcelona and interest from Premier League champions Arsenal.

In an interview published on Atlético Madrid‘s official YouTube channel, Gil Marín revealed that Los Colchoneros have already rejected a concrete €100 million approach for the Argentine international. The executive forcefully pushed back against recent public comments from FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, urging the Catalan leadership to end their pursuit of the forward.

The transfer dispute comes amidst escalating institutional friction, with Atlético filing formal complaints to world football’s governing body FIFA and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The legal filings allege that Alvarez’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, conducted unauthorized negotiations with Barcelona during a protected period between transfer windows.

Laporta, speaking from New York, previously claimed that Atlético held Barcelona’s proposal and stated that the Catalan club would look at other options if Madrid refused to negotiate. In response, Gil Marín accused Laporta of prolonging the transfer narrative to generate Catalan media attention while privately understanding that Alvarez will not be moving to the Camp Nou.

The public standoff unfolds just as Alvarez prepares to represent Argentina against Spain in the FIFA World Cup final. The striker’s public transfer request last month, which occurred on the same day Lionel Messi set a new World Cup goals record, drew scrutiny across football circles. However, Gil Marín emphasized that the club distinguishes between the actions of agent Fernando Hidalgo and the professional integrity of Alvarez himself.

Atlético’s firm stance reflects the long-term vision of its ownership group, Apollo Sports Capital. Club chairman Enrique Cerezo reiterated the position from Segovia, confirming that Atlético’s sporting squad planning assumes Alvarez will return to Madrid following his post-tournament break to begin pre-season preparations.

With Barcelona coach Hansi Flick reportedly making personal overtures to the forward and Arsenal monitoring the situation, Atlético remain firm. Under FIFA rules governing player transfers, unauthorized contact with a contracted player or their representative outside permitted negotiation windows can lead to sanctions against both the recruiting club and the player’s agent.