Atletico Madrid have released a strange statement in relation to FC Barcelona’s reported bid for Julian Alvarez.
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Atletico Madrid have released a mocking statement in relation to Barcelona’s reported bid for Julian Alvarez.
Earlier on Friday, transfer market expert Fabrizio revealed that Barca had sent its “first official proposal to Atletico Madrid for Julian Alvarez worth €100 million ($116.7 million)”, with
“no add-ons” and “no players involved”.
“Atletico, not happy about the situation over last 24h – but Julian has already asked to leave,” the Italian added.
In retaliation, Atletico released a social media post with Lamine Yamal donning Rojiblanco.
“We have sent a fax to FC Barcelona with our transfer offer: four tickets for tomorrow’s Bad Bunny concert, an annual subscription to [newspaper] ABC, and a bag of sunflower seeds. We eagerly await the response to prepare the ‘announcement’,” Atleti tweeted, after Romano’s “Here we go” catchphrase.
Romano has also explained that Atleti don’t intend to sell Alvarez for the mentioned €100 million fee.
“Barcelona are prepared to return to the table soon, [and] Julian’s camp already made clear to Atleti that he wants to leave,” Romano added.
Atletico won’t make Alvarez’s potential FC Barcelona exit easy
Atleti signed Alvarez from Manchester City for £81.5 million (€94 million/$109.7 million) in 2024, as reported by BBC Sport.
With the Argentine tied down to a contract until 2030, though, there’s no obligation to sell him for a little over that price tag.
Atleti can hold out for something more and perhaps a number that hovers more around the €130 million ($151.7 million) mark.
Because while not caving into Barca and an initial bid is one thing, keeping a player around that evidently doesn’t want to be there is another.
If landed, Alvarez will be a direct replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who flees the Spotify Camp Nou after four successful years there when his contract expires on June 30.
This more concrete pursuit of the Argentine also comes in the same week that Barca has closed in on Newcastle United left winger Anthony Gordon.
After scoring against the Catalans in the Champions League this season, the England international is now on the verge of completing a surprise €80 million ($94 million) contract to don Blaugrana permanently from the 2026/2027 campaign onwards.
This will likely come at the expense of Marcus Rashford not having his €30 million ($35 million) buy option triggered by Barcelona and therefore returning to Manchester United on the same day Lewandowski sets sail.