Julian Alvarez: 'Lies and half-truths' - Atletico Madrid hit back at Barcelona over transfer saga
BBC Sport
Atletico Madrid have strongly rejected Barcelona's interest in forward Julian Alvarez, insisting there is a "0% chance" of him leaving. This comes after Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly expressed their continued desire to sign the player.
Alvarez has been at the center of a contentious transfer saga this summer, with his future the subject of intense speculation. During Atletico's recent draw with Villarreal, he was booed by his own supporters and subsequently missed training. Reports suggest he was unwell, but Atletico have condemned Laporta's recent video, in which he maintains Barcelona's €100m (£85.7m) offer is still on the table.
In their response, Atletico stated:
"This is not about money, it's about dignity. The player is being victimized, but the only victim in the Julian case is us. They have harmed us economically and socially. There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca. There is a campaign of many lies and half-truths. The only one paying for this is Atletico."
Laporta, in his video, acknowledged Atletico's respect but stood by their offer. This follows weeks of public disagreements between the clubs and growing interest from Arsenal, who view Alvarez as their dream transfer target. However, sources close to the situation indicate that Alvarez still wishes to remain in Spain.
With the transfer window nearing its end on 1 September, the war of words continues, with Alvarez's future remaining one of football's most hotly debated topics.