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Atlético Madrid continue to stand firm in their refusal to sell Julián Alvarez to Barcelona, with club CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín pointing to Antoine Griezmann's ill-fated spell in Catalonia as a cautionary tale for the in-demand forward.
Alvarez made his intentions clear during the World Cup, expressing a desire to leave the Spanish capital to "fulfill his dream," widely understood to be a transfer to the reigning back-to-back La Liga champions. The striker went public following Argentina's win over Austria in the group stage, yet Atléti have shown no signs of relenting.
Barcelona's $114 million (€100 million) offer was turned down, though the bid will remain active through the end of July. La Blaugrana are counting on Alvarez to pressure his club into reconsidering their position.
Atléti, however, remain unmoved, with Marín stating they would not entertain even a $230 million proposal from their domestic rivals, having already turned away a $170 million approach from Real Madrid earlier this summer.
Antoine Griezmann 'Serves As the Example'
Regardless of what steps Alvarez takes, Atléti's position appears unlikely to shift. The Argentine forward may hold further talks with the club or issue another public statement, but he is widely expected to be met with resistance from the unyielding Rojiblancos.
CEO Marín is urging Alvarez to take a page from Atléti legend Griezmann's book. Barcelona triggered his $136 million release clause back in 2019, making him one of the priciest transfers in history, yet Griezmann endured two unhappy seasons in Catalonia before returning to the Metropolitano.
"The player [Griezmann] himself admitted at the time that leaving was a mistake, and I hope this serves as a lesson for many other footballers going forward," Marín said (via Mundo Deportivo).
The comment is an unmistakable nod to Alvarez's situation, with Marín hinting to the 26-year-old that a change of scenery doesn't always bring the desired results.
Griezmann was initially met with jeers and cold indifference upon his return to Atlético in 2021, and had to earn back his standing with the fanbase. He ultimately succeeded, departing for a second time in 2026 as the club's all-time top scorer and arguably their finest ever player.
Atlético Madrid's Stance on Selling Julián Alvarez Abroad
Atléti are expecting Alvarez to return for preseason training on Aug. 10, ahead of their La Liga season opener against newly-promoted Malaga on Aug. 19.
Alvarez's public comments have undoubtedly soured his relationship with supporters, who never quite embraced him the way they did Griezmann before his Barcelona departure. Should the move fail to materialize, the striker can expect a cold welcome at the start of the upcoming campaign.
That said, Barcelona are not the only club pursuing Alvarez this summer. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with the forward, and Atléti are reportedly open to accepting a fair offer from a club outside Spain. The Gunners are said to have more genuine interest than the side that pipped them to the Champions League crown, though Mikel Arteta's team are currently prioritizing a move for Real Madrid's standout attacker, Vinícius Júnior.
A sale to Barça remains highly improbable, meaning Alvarez will either face a hostile atmosphere at the Metropolitano or find himself playing his football well outside the Spanish capital when the summer window closes.