After weeks of negotiations involving intermediaries, a €100 million offer from Barcelona, and multiple refusals from Atlético to engage in talks, Argentine forward Julián Álvarez has decided to take the next step to secure his move to Camp Nou.
According to SPORT, Álvarez and his representatives informed Deco during their recent meeting in Madrid that he is prepared to increase pressure on Atlético. This marks the next phase in a strategy gradually agreed upon by the player and club over recent weeks, as Atlético remains firmly closed off to any negotiation opportunities.
Despite his desire to leave, Álvarez is committed to maintaining a professional approach. Since Monday, he has been following Atlético’s individualized fitness program and is expected to return to full training on 10 August as originally planned, with no delays or signs of rebellion.
Upon returning to Atlético’s training ground, Álvarez intends to communicate directly with the club’s sporting department about his wish to leave this summer and join Barcelona.
Rather than making further public statements or protests, Álvarez plans to make his request privately. The aim is not to provoke institutional conflict but simply to persuade Atlético to come to the negotiating table.
The Argentine will also make it clear that Barcelona is the only club he wants to join, which could prompt Atlético to reconsider whether it makes sense to retain a player whose interests are clearly focused elsewhere.
The responsibility will then fall on Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and Atlético’s sporting department, led by Mateu Alemany. They will have to decide whether to insist on keeping a player who has now expressed his desire to move to Barcelona both publicly and privately.
At present, Barcelona’s strategy remains unchanged. The club’s offer stands at €100 million, as previously agreed with the player’s representatives. However, if Atlético agrees to negotiations following Álvarez’s request, Barcelona is prepared to improve the offer to bridge the gap between the parties.
