'0% chance' - Atletico hit back at Barca over Alvarez transfer row

'0% chance' - Atletico hit back at Barca over Alvarez transfer row In May, Barcelona reportedly opened talks to sign Julián Álvarez, prompting Atlético Madrid to issue a firm rebuttal. The club hit back with a series of social media posts that mocked Barcelona’s pursuit, describing it as a "smear campaign". Álvarez’s future had already become a talking point after his appearance at the World Cup with Argentina. In June, city rivals Real Madrid entered the fray, submitting a €150 million (£130 million) bid for the forward after president Florentino Pérez pledged to make such an offer for an unnamed “Galactico” should he be re‑elected. Atlético turned down the offer; Real Madrid pointed to Álvarez’s €500 million (£430 million) release clause and claimed the Spanish side had "expressed its gratitude for the proposal". Atlético again responded with humorous social media content, denying any gratitude and insisting that Álvarez would not be sold to Barcelona. Following Argentina’s triumph over Austria in June, Álvarez told reporters he had spoken with Atlético and said, “the best thing for everyone is simply a transfer”, adding, “I want to fulfil my dream”. Those comments effectively confirmed that, despite Atlético’s insistence that he was not for sale, the player himself was open to leaving, with Barcelona and Paris Saint‑Ger­main among the clubs reportedly interested. Barcelona’s interest stemmed from the need for a long‑term successor to Robert Lewandowski, who departed the club that summer. Atlético maintained its position, with chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín stating the club would not sell Álvarez “even for 200m euros (£170.8m)”.