Diego Simeone has officially confirmed that Argentine striker Julián Álvarez will remain at Atlético Madrid, backing the club owner’s decision to reject any transfer offers during the current window.
Álvarez previously expressed a desire to move following Argentina’s World Cup match against Austria, stating he had spoken with club officials and felt a transition would be best to pursue his career ambitions—a statement widely interpreted as a bid to join Barcelona.
Barcelona submitted a massive bid exceeding €100 million for the 26-year-old forward. However, Atlético’s hierarchy rejected the approach, refusing to sell the international star to Barcelona due to strained relations between the two clubs.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Atlético Madrid’s La Liga opener against Málaga, Simeone addressed the forward’s situation: “If the owner spoke with such clarity and strength, there isn’t much left to add. It is like being in court—there is no longer any room for doubt.”
Addressing Álvarez’s absence from the upcoming fixture, the Argentine manager added: “We do not believe Julián is currently in the right condition to play or participate in tomorrow’s match. We hope that over the next four days he makes progress and gets closer to the physical state we need him to be in.”
Álvarez is under contract with Atlético Madrid until June 30, 2030, with a release clause set at €500 million. Since joining the club in the summer of 2024 from Manchester City for approximately €75 million, he has registered 49 goals and 16 assists across 106 appearances. In the 2025–2026 season, he produced 20 goals and 9 assists in 49 matches across all competitions.
Before moving to Spain, Álvarez won the Copa Libertadores and the Argentine title with River Plate before moving to Manchester City, where he secured the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup.
