ATLETICO REJECT ALVAREZ EXIT AS BARCELONA, ARSENAL SHOW INTEREST

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Agency Report

Atletico Madrid have ruled out the possibility of allowing forward Julian Alvarez to leave the club during the current transfer window, despite reported interest from Barcelona, manager Diego Simeone said on Saturday.

The Spanish club last month lodged a complaint with FIFA over allegations that Barcelona had approached Alvarez without Atletico’s permission.

The Argentina international has also been linked with a move to Premier League champions Arsenal and was the subject of a reported €150 million ($173.4 million) bid from Real Madrid in June, which Atletico rejected.

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“I think the situation is very clear. The club has made a decision that (CEO) Miguel Angel (Gil Marin) has explained very well,” Simeone told reporters ahead of Atletico’s pre-season friendly against Manchester City in Seoul.

“From a sporting perspective, we’re very happy to have a footballer like Julian.

“We will help him continue to grow, continue to improve and continue delivering the best — which has been a tremendous amount — that he has given us over the last two years.”

Alvarez is expected to rejoin the Atletico squad in two days after taking a break following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final.

During his time with Argentina at the tournament, the 26-year-old suggested that a transfer could be beneficial for all parties, although he stopped short of revealing his preferred destination.

Since joining Atletico from Manchester City two years ago, Alvarez has scored 49 goals for the Spanish club.

Atletico CEO Gil Marin has also insisted that the club is determined to retain the forward, saying it rejected a €100 million offer and would turn down any future bids, regardless of their value.

“We don’t want to transfer him. We didn’t accept the 100-million-euro offer, nor will we accept one for 150 million or 200 million,” Gil Marin told the club’s in-house media channel.

“I have no doubt that Atletico is the right place for Julian and that Julian is the centre-forward for Atletico Madrid. We want to keep him.”

Asked how Atletico supporters might react to Alvarez following the transfer speculation, Simeone pointed to the experience of Antoine Griezmann.

The French forward left Atletico for Barcelona in a high-profile transfer before eventually returning to Madrid. Although he initially faced hostility from sections of the club’s fanbase, Griezmann regained their support and left last season as an Atletico legend.

“We went through a period with Antoine in recent years where he had to leave, come back, and prove his quality and stature on the pitch,” Simeone said.

“I see no other path than focusing on the sporting side of things, doing our part and helping him (Alvarez), just as we have done over the last few years.”

Atletico will begin their La Liga campaign on August 19 with a home fixture against newly promoted Malaga.

The Madrid club finished fourth in La Liga last season, 25 points behind champions Barcelona.

(AFP)