Atlético have said no. Twice. First to Real Madrid (although they deny it), then to Barcelona. And the bid of 150 million? Rejected.
The red-and-white club has stood tall and unwavering towards both Barcelona and Real Madrid with a resounding “no” to releasing the player. Not even for 150 million euros have they given in. It is a strength they must maintain in a summer that already looks to be unusually long.
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Atlético have thus said no. Not just to Real Madrid – it came two weeks ago. But also to Barcelona. Two rejections that have gained extra power through the club’s active presence on social media.
In today’s world, where everything is measured in likes, the first tweet Atlético published on May 29 to stop the flow of rumours about Julián Álvarez and Barça – the one in which they offered tickets to Bad Bunny and a bag of seeds to Lamine Yamal – has already garnered more than 76 million views on social media (76,835,020 last night, to be precise). Yesterday’s tweet, in which the club retweeted Real Madrid’s statement that they had made a bid of 150 million for Julián, has surpassed 21 million views (21,623,897). The bid was thus rejected by the red and white club. Madrid admitted that themselves.
And herein lies the core of the problem. Atlético can no longer move from this position. The resounding ‘no’ is an obligation. They can no longer sell the Argentine for a lower amount than that – in a summer that has barely begun, and which is already predicted to be long, very long.
“Not for sale. Period.
Admittedly, the comment about Julián from the Metropolitano is always the same: He is not for sale. He is part of the plans for next season. The buyout clause is for €500 million – the only amount the Red and White club would let him leave for right now. In reality, they would have no choice, because the clause opens the door all by itself.
Arsenal, PSG and Barcelona – who have now seen Madrid’s bid of 150 million rejected – already know that if they want Julián, there is no point in even such an amount. At least that’s what Atlético have made clear with their two loud no’s. It is a position they have to maintain.
Difference Between Words and Deeds
From the red and white club, they also emphasize another detail: Julián has never told them that he wants to leave. The player’s behavior, they claim, has been impeccable. But sometimes actions count more than words. And the circumstances around Julián shine like neon signs in one particular direction.
He hinted at that direction already in the autumn, in an interview with L’Équipe: “There is a lot of talk about me and Barcelona. Right now I’m focusing on Atlético. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.” The end of the season has now come and gone, but in the interviews the Argentine has done after matches or in press conferences, he has been categorical about his desire to continue as a red and white. Nevertheless, the mud grows, and uncertainty spreads.
“He has an offer from Arsenal, but there is a better place for him
Julián Álvarez is an extraordinary footballer. He scores goals, he creates games, he is among the world’s very best. Everyone loves him, and he allows himself to be loved. Still, Barcelona seems to have been living in his head for months.
That’s what an Argentine YouTuber, Davoo Xeneize, told in a stream a few months ago, after spending a few days in Madrid with Julián and the rest of Atlético’s Argentines. Without mentioning the name directly, he basically said everything (“people already know who it is”). “He told me that he has an offer from Arsenal, but that there is a better place for him…”, he added, before leaving a neon light hanging in the air: “Imagine him playing there with Lamine?”
Well, that’s also what the red-and-white club has to contend with during this long summer. The player’s own thoughts and wishes – even if he hasn’t put anything into words yet.
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