ESPN drop statement from Diego Simeone on Thursday, wey the Argentine coach say Atlético de Madrid still dey build their project around Julián Álvarez, even though Joan Laporta confirm this week say Barcelona don make formal offer for the striker.
The public intervention from Simeone no come as surprise: e reach the point where the saga don reach highest tension between the two clubs.
The main problem na say Simeone dey talk one thing, and Álvarez talk another thing in May. The coach dey project continuity; the player project exit. That contradiction na the real issue for this story, and no press conference go resolve am.
For ESPN Argentina, Simeone talk strong: “He be the player wey we, as club and as team, imagine we dey build our game around. That na wetin we don do since he come, and e still be our thinking.” He even place am among top five players for the world, without any doubt.
But for May, na Álvarez himself wey tell ESPN say the best thing for all parties na for am to leave, and say he don already communicate that position to club officials. No be ambiguous comment or forced answer: na full declaration of intentions from a 26-year-old player for the peak of im career.
Facing that reality, Simeone choose to redirect the conversation towards the World Cup. “His future na the match against Cabo Verde,” he say. “The best thing he fit do na to focus on that match and no think about all the things wey dey create confusion.” Na tactical answer, no be substantive reply to wetin the player talk publicly.
The Rojiblancos don build a solid front for outside. CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín don warn say the club go file complaint with FIFA for illegal approach by Barcelona, claiming say Los Culés contact the player’s entourage without permission. The threat of formal complaint to FIFA don already be detailed by Football España when the institutional conflict become public for late June.
The legal argument of Atlético dey rest on a release clause wey sources for Spain put at 500 million euros, and a contract wey run till 2030. With those instruments on the table, the position of no-sale na defendable for formal level.
The problem be say a player wey don verbalize im desire to go, e no go fit perform at same level if e perceive say the club dey block a reasonable exit.
Manchester City for 2024 for a deal wey reach 95 million euros. Na top-level institutional bet. That less than two seasons later the player dey ask to leave, by itself, na sign say something for the relationship no work as expected, no matter the numbers wey Simeone dey praise.
Laporta confirm the offer but no give amount. According to ESPN, the proposal still dey on the table while Atlético dey look for replacement, wey suggest say Barcelona no don give up, but e no dey in position to raise the bid indefinitely.
Direct negotiations between both clubs, according to ESPN, don start, although Atlético deny any real progress.
Barcelona don sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for 70 million euros, and need to cover the departure of Robert Lewandowski, wey don join Chicago Fire.
Club sources tell ESPN say Barcelona dey confident to make another significant signing, because now dem dey comply with LaLiga financial regulations for first time in years, wey increase their flexibility compared to previous seasons.
As alternative, ESPN reveal this week say Barcelona make informal inquiry about Harry Kane, currently for Bayern Munich, but the approach be rejected flat, with the England international focused on World Cup.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain also dey follow the case closely. Real Madrid, for their part, confirm for May say dem try unsuccessfully with 150 million offer; that figure, if real, set a floor for any serious negotiation.
The most likely scenario for short term involve three moves: say Barcelona increase their offer to a number wey Atlético no fit reject without exposing themselves to prolonged player discontent; say Álvarez self talk again after World Cup and repeat im wish to leave with more force; or say Atlético execute the threat to FIFA, wey go turn the saga into regulatory conflict with own timeline.
Internal cracks for Atlético under Barcelona pressure already be documented factor. Simeone fit repeat as many times as e want say Álvarez no dey for sale. Wetin e no fit control na wetin the player go talk when the tournament end and im attention shift back to im club future. That moment, and no this press conference, go determine the real direction of the operation.
The soap opera for Julián Álvarez future fit be shorter than expected. The scene don change since two weeks ago when the player, after a match with Argentina for World Cup, say e want to leave by transfer, saying “the best for everybody na transfer” and say e “dey wish to fulfill a dream.”
Since then, things don happen. First with Joan Laporta intervention minutes after e be sworn in as president again, and with Diego Simeone from Miami for ESPN. More things go happen, but those wey think negotiation go drag until market deadline fit get surprise.
Laporta make clear for im first press conference after inauguration on Wednesday July 1 say “Barcelona offer no be unlimited for time.” The president inform say the club approach Atlético de Madrid with 100 million offer for the player, and Atlético tell dem say e no dey for sale because “dem no get alternative to replace am.”
For those statements, Laporta invite Atlético de Madrid to come back to negotiation table, but warn the Madrid club say dem no go wait forever. The reason na say Hansi Flick, wey plan to start working with available players within a week before travelling on 27th for pre-season in England, want to know as soon as possible which pieces e go get for season start. The German, wey no like last-minute improvisations wey e experience for im first two seasons with the club where negotiations go to the wire, want to have all cards on the table before game start. And more so if na such important card as the striker wey go replace Robert Lewandowski.
So, e appear say Barcelona dey give themselves a deadline to see if negotiations resume, while still working on other options, while Atlético dey stay firm. But dem also know say the scene don change for them. If the first reaction of Atlético when dem receive offer for Julián na to laugh at Barcelona for social media, after Julián appear on June 22 for United States saying publicly say e want to go, no more jokes. Dem know say the matter serious.
Facing this situation, Atlético know say dem get problem wey only fit resolve for two ways: either sell the player for maximum money, or try make the Argentine reverse im words, apologize and accept to stay. Both options seem difficult now. First because Barcelona dey determined not to break the bank for Julián by paying the 150 million wey Madrid offer and be rejected. Despite being back for 1:1 rule, Barcelona president say the club no go “sign for signing sake” and any operation go be within “economic logic.” For second case, Julián don take a very important and difficult step, and from im entourage dem hint say if e do am, e no be to reverse.
For Atlético, however, dem no throw towel. While some fans dey feel hurt with the player and see say something don break irreparably, Simeone dey try rebuild bridges of dialogue. This past week before Argentina play against Cabo Verde for round of 16, Cholo go to the Argentina camp for Miami and grant interview to ESPN where e only praise Julián. No reproach for a player wey e describe as “the best for the team” while showing hope say “everything go solve as e always happen.” Dem no know how, but e go no drag until August 31.
Two weeks don pass since those declarations from Julián Álvarez wey shake the table. The 26-year-old striker make clear im intentions not to continue for Atlético de Madrid despite contract until 2030 and being one of the big stars of the club. La Araña get FC Barcelona as likely destination where e want continue im career. But the refusal from Madrid dem don be clear and firm, so the Catalan club get their plan clear, as As newspaper tell us.
The Argentine striker now dey news because the cited medium talk about a important change of scene for the player future. The Catalans no want to wait much longer beyond when the World Cup end for the player, wey fit be tomorrow, Saturday, or wait one week more. Dem no want the soap opera to drag too much and dem dey talk about other options like Dusan Vlahovic wey still dey wait. The Serbian striker emerge hours ago as alternative plan for Hansi Flick attack.
