Atlético de Madrid confirmed Real Madrid’s contact regarding Julián Álvarez, but did not reveal any figures.
Atlético de Madrid rejected the interest shown by Real Madrid and reinforced that the Argentine striker is not for sale. The club expressed gratitude that their eternal rival had made contact, unlike Barcelona.
Enrique Cerezo and Florentino Pérez in classic. Chema Rey
There was a call, but no formal offer. This is the summary of the controversy that arose after Real Madrid released a statement stating that it had offered 150 million euros for Julián Álvarez, with Atlético de Madrid rejecting it. The colchonero club reacted with a series of ironic publications on social media, making it clear that the two parties interpreted the facts differently.
In the end, these were half-truths. It was true that Real Madrid had made contact to show interest and question the situation of the Argentine striker. However, Atlético did not open any room for negotiations and maintained the firm position it has adopted since Barcelona began to show interest, taking advantage of Julián Álvarez’s previous statement about not accepting the 10 million euros per year renewal that was on the table.
That would have ended Real Madrid’s interest. Despite the short conversation, Atlético valued the fact that their rival had approached the club, unlike Barcelona. What caused the greatest surprise in the Metropolitano offices was the subsequent release of a statement that did not correspond exactly to the facts, as no specific value was discussed.
Regarding the numbers, Atlético de Madrid insists on not negotiating any amount, always referring to the 500 million euros termination clause, the same one applied to all clubs. Hence the surprise at the mention of high values that, regardless of the player’s quality, are not being considered.
Needles on social media
Atlético de Madrid resorted to the usual sarcasm on social media to send messages to their rival. Starting with the “new president”, the club praised the desire for good relations, remembering that the previous ones left something to be desired. He also called for an end to recurring attempts to recruit base players.
Finally, in addition to reiterating that Julián Álvarez is not for sale, Atlético de Madrid sees the dispute between the two great Spaniards for the striker as a source of pride. The club considers it an honor to have him in the squad and remembers that the contract runs until 2030.