Atletico Madrid have told Barcelona and Arsenal that Julian Alvarez is not for sale – at any price. Speaking out in an interview with club media, Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil made clear the Spanish side would not entertain offers for the Argentina striker, even if they reached €200m.
Arsenal are among the clubs linked with Alvarez this summer, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly confirmed the Catalan club have a bid on the table – albeit with a deadline attached. But Gil’s response was unequivocal.
“Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil says Julian Alvarez will not be sold for even €200m, hitting out at Barcelona's president.”
“I heard some statements from the Barcelona president saying his offer wasn't unlimited,” Gil said. “Our response is indeed unlimited: we don't want to transfer him. We didn't accept the €100m offer, nor will we accept one of €150m or €200m.”
Gil also took aim at Laporta’s public pursuit of the player, accusing him of treating the situation as a “personal circus”. The Atletico CEO said he had directly asked Laporta to stop.
“I spoke to him personally. I told him: ‘Please, just let it go. We do not want to sell him and we are not going to sell him. Stop insisting,’” Gil recalled. “But he keeps this situation alive because, in part, he enjoys it. He is frivolous and loves maintaining this relationship with the fans and the media. But he knows perfectly well that Julian will not be playing for FC Barcelona next season.”
Alvarez, who joined Atletico from Manchester City two years ago, has been linked with a move back to the Premier League with Arsenal, as well as to Barcelona and Real Madrid. But Gil expressed confidence the player will stay, despite suggesting Alvarez had been “poorly advised since the end of the season”.
“The truth is that we know Julian,” Gil said. “We have worked with him over the last two seasons, and we have absolutely no doubt about his character or his professionalism. … I think both the player and the supporters have it very simple. Everything depends on the player's attitude and also on his performances.”
Atletico’s stance leaves Arsenal and Barcelona with little room for manoeuvre. For now, Alvarez remains in Madrid – and Gil insists that is exactly where he will stay.
