Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has definitively ruled out selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona. In comments reported by Reuters on Thursday, Gil Marín accused the Catalan club of dishonesty and stated the Argentine forward would 'never, ever' be transferred to their LaLiga rivals.
The top executive's blistering response came after Barcelona president Joan Laporta reiterated his club's strong interest in the player a day earlier. Atletico's board of directors unanimously backed the stance of refusing any talks, stating there was 'zero consideration' of a sale. This war of words erupts with Atletico sitting sixth in the table, two points behind leaders Barcelona, and a day away from a key away fixture against third-placed Sevilla.
What exactly did Gil Marín say?
Gil Marín was unequivocal following Thursday's Champions League league phase draw. "The truth is that it outrages us even more; we are repulsed by the dishonesty, the lack of ethics, transparency and professionalism, and we can only insist that we will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances," the executive told Movistar Plus. He claimed unanimous support from shareholders and directors for this decision.
The CEO also revealed the personal toll the saga is taking on Julian Alvarez. "Julian is really struggling; there have been people who have set out to deceive and confuse him, and I'm very sorry about that," Gil Marín said. He described the footballer as a great professional going through a very difficult time both personally and in his career.
What is Atletico's current sporting context?
Diego Simeone's squad faces this standoff during an active period on the pitch. In LaLiga, Atletico have 4 points from two games, with a record of one win and one draw. Their attacking output has been solid, scoring 4 goals and conceding only 2 for a +2 goal difference. You can follow the full league picture on our standings page.
The next challenge is immediate: a trip to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan to face Sevilla, who are third in the table. This match, scheduled for August 29th, is crucial for keeping pace with the early frontrunners. All details on the upcoming schedule are on our fixtures page.
What are Julian Alvarez's options now?
Gil Marín made it clear that Barcelona is the only option completely off the table. "Our intention and my personal dream is for him to stay with us, to remain at Atletico," he stated. He acknowledged, however, that if the player believes staying is no longer feasible, the club would seek an alternative, but never at the Camp Nou.
This firmness reinforces Atletico's position as a club that does not yield to pressure from direct rivals, especially in a transfer window. Retaining a key attacking piece like Alvarez is important for the season's ambitions, where the team has already shown scoring capability. The current squad, which you can review on our squad page, is preparing for a demanding schedule across three competitions.
The situation now rests with the player and the evolution of the transfer market. Atletico, with its public and internal stance clearly defined, turns its focus to the match against Sevilla, a fixture that could solidify their positive start to the campaign.
