Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has issued a hands-off warning to clubs such as FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, who are intrerested in snatching away striker Julian Alvarez this summer.
“Julian Alvarez is an Atletico Madrid player, not just for this past season, but for many others,” the Rojiblancos leader stated on Monday, pointing to a contract that expires in mid-2030.
Alvarez signed for Atletico Madrid via a $109 million deal with Manchester City in 2024, but he’s reportedly getting itchy feet amid a lack of silverware at the Metropolitano.
While Atleti knocked Barça out of the Copa del Rey semifinals and Champions League finals this term, they fell to Real Sociedad in the former competition’s decider and then Arsenal in the last four of the continental tournament won by PSG.
Both the Catalans and PSG want Alvarez to bolster their attack. While Barça reportedly launched a $116 million (€100 million) bid on Friday, PSG allegedly have an agreement in place with Atleti to start formal negotations after the UCL final played in Budapest this past weekend.
Cerezo says Julian Alvarez is going nowhere
Asked about the Argentine’s future each time he makes a public appearance, Cerezo said “Julian Alvarez is an Atletico Madrid player, not just for this past season, but for many others,” when broached on the topic at the ICAD International Workshop on Monday.
“We’ve had a very good season, and we’re really in a position to prepare for the next one. As transfer developments occur, we’ll announce them,” Cerezo further promised.
While the president will put on a strong front in public, however, it is believed that Atleti will buckle or at least lend an ear to any offer exceeding the €100 million mark.
This is pocket changed to a moneyed outfit like PSG backed by the unlimited reserves of the Qatari state. For Barça, though, battling to return to the 1:1 rule under Financial Fair Play Limits (FFP), it’s not as straightforward.
While Ansu Fati’s expected $12.8 million (€11 million) transfer to AS Monaco will reportedly help get back on track in terms of FFP, player sales will be needed to raise the extra funds.
This is where AS Monaco could come in again, with apparent interest in out-of-favour midfielder Marc Casado perhaps contributing to Julian Alvarez’s anticipated arrival at the Spotify Camp Nou.