Diego Simeone has delivered a firm message to Arsenal and Barcelona: Atletico Madrid will not sell Julian Alvarez this summer. The Argentine striker, who has expressed his desire to leave, will stay unless a club activates his €500 million (£428.5m) release clause, according to the club's president.
Simeone's clear stance in Seoul
Speaking at a press conference in Seoul on Saturday, Simeone doubled down on Atletico's position, referencing the club's previous handling of Antoine Griezmann's transfer saga. 'The situation is very clear, the club made a decision that Miguel Angel [Gil Marin] explained very well,' Simeone said. 'From the sporting side, we are very happy to have a player like Julian, and from a sporting perspective we will help him to continue growing, to continue improving, and to give us back what he has given us over these two years, which was a great deal.'
'We have some precedents, we already saw what happened with Griezmann, I don't see any other way than to work from a sporting perspective as we have to and try to help as we have done these past two years,' he added.
Alvarez's desire to leave
Alvarez, 26, made his intentions clear during Argentina's World Cup campaign, telling Atletico he wants to leave before the end of the transfer window. 'I spoke with the people I needed to speak with and the best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream,' Alvarez said after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria in June.
Barcelona are understood to be Alvarez's preferred destination, but Atletico have been angered by Barca's public pursuit and are refusing to negotiate with their La Liga rivals.
Arsenal's search for a marquee signing
Arsenal are aiming to land a marquee signing to bolster Mikel Arteta's attacking options ahead of the new season. However, they recently missed out on Vinicius Junior, who opted to renew his contract with Real Madrid this week. Arteta has been a long-term admirer of Alvarez, and Arsenal have explored the possibility of signing the Argentina international this summer.
Despite Alvarez's desire to leave, Atletico president Miguel Angel Gil Marin has been unequivocal. Speaking last month, he insisted that the only way for Barcelona to sign Alvarez would be to activate the €500 million release clause. 'My opinion is clear, the club's will is clear, we have made this clear to the player and his agent, and to the president of Barca,' Gil Marin said.
'I have no doubt that Atletico is the right place in the world for Julian, and Julian is the perfect striker for Atletico Madrid. We want to keep him. We didn't accept the €100 million offer, nor will we accept one of €150 million or €200 million,' he added.
What's next for Alvarez?
With Atletico refusing to negotiate, Alvarez's options are limited. The €500 million release clause is a prohibitive figure for any club, including Arsenal and Barcelona. Unless a club is willing to trigger that clause, Alvarez will remain at the Wanda Metropolitano for the upcoming season.
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to explore other attacking options, with reports linking them to an £85m winger after missing out on Vinicius Junior. The club is also reportedly considering a move for a £70m Chelsea star, as Arteta looks to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes.
