Atletico Madrid have ridiculed Real Madrid after Los Blancos confirmed a transfer offer for striker Julian Alvarez had been turned down, with Mikel Arteta and Arsenal also understood to be keen.
Alvarez, 26, has spent the past two years at Atleti following his £82million switch from Manchester City. During that period, the Argentine has netted 49 goals in 106 appearances.
Despite putting pen to paper on a six-year deal containing a £431m release clause, rumours had begun to circulate that Alvarez could depart Atleti this summer, with Barcelona and Arsenal amongst the clubs mentioned.
Although Atleti had been resolute in their position that Alvarez was not available, Real nonetheless submitted a jaw-dropping £129m offer for the former River Plate man on Tuesday, after Florentino Perez pledged a new ‘galactico’ signing.
Yet Real’s approach was swiftly rebuffed by Atleti. “Following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez,” a statement from Real confirmed.
“After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atletico de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.”
Within minutes of Real publishing that statement, Atleti fired back with a withering response — making abundantly clear that no offers for Alvarez would be entertained this summer. Atleti fired back by first retweeting Real’s post on X with five laughing face emojis, before releasing a statement of their own, taking a swipe at Los Blancos for making a bid and ridiculing their rivals.
View 2 ImagesAtleitco Madrid star Julian Alvarez has been linked with Arsenal(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Atleti said: “Official statement with our clarifications regarding the official statement from our neighbours @realmadrid: 1. They cut out the part of the Pope’s video where he said he was an Atleti fan too.
“2. You must have confused education with gratitude, but to leave no doubt: we don’t thank you for anything. 3. We neither study nor consider any offer for Julian. 4. How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than @FCBarcelona_es does.”
They then added: “P.S. Taking advantage of the good relationship with your new president, let’s see if you stop ‘stealing’ players from our Academy. Thanks a lot, @realmadrid!”
Even if Atleti were to soften their position and sanction Alvarez’s departure, it is expected the club would demand considerably more than Real’s £129m bid — a figure that would make him the most expensive signing in Premier League history should Arsenal manage to get a deal over the line.
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