Barcelona ‘Trolled’ By Atletico Madrid Over Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid have released a strange statement in relation to FC Barcelona's reported bid for Julian Alvarez.

Getty ImagesAtletico Madrid have released a mocking statement in relation to Barcelona's reported bid for Julian Alvarez.

>Earlier on Friday, transfer market expert Fabrizio revealed that Barca had sent its “first official proposal to Atletico Madrid for Julian Alvarez worth €100 million ($116.7 million)”, with “no add-ons” and “no players involved”.

> “Atletico, not happy about the situation over last 24h - but Julian has already asked to leave,” the Italian added.

>In retaliation, Atletico released a social media post with Lamine Yamal donning Rojiblanco.

>“We have sent a fax to FC Barcelona with our transfer offer: four tickets for tomorrow’s Bad Bunny concert, an annual subscription to [newspaper] ABC, and a bag of sunflower seeds. We eagerly await the response to prepare the ‘announcement’,” Atleti tweeted, after Romano’s “Here we go” catchphrase.

>Romano has also explained that Atleti don’t intend to sell Alvarez for the mentioned €100 million fee.

> “Barcelona are prepared to return to the table soon, [and] Julian’s camp already made clear to Atleti that he wants to leave,” Romano added.

Atletico won’t make Alvarez’s potential FC Barcelona exit easyAtleti signed Alvarez from Manchester City for £81.5 million (€94 million/$109.7 million) in 2024, as reported by BBC Sport.

>With the Argentine tied down to a contract until 2030, though, there’s no obligation to sell him for a little over that price tag.

>Atleti can hold out for something more and perhaps a number that hovers more around the €130 million ($151.7 million) mark.

>Because while not caving into Barca and an initial bid is one thing, keeping a player around that evidently doesn’t want to be there is another.

>If landed, Alvarez will be a direct replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who flees the Spotify Camp Nou after four successful years there when his contract expires on June 30.

>This more concrete pursuit of the Argentine also comes in the same week that Barca has closed in on Newcastle United left winger Anthony Gordon.

>After scoring against the Catalans in the Champions League this season, the England international is now on the verge of completing a surprise €80 million ($94 million) contract to don Blaugrana permanently from the 2026/2027 campaign onwards.

>This will likely come at the expense of Marcus Rashford not having his €30 million ($35 million) buy option triggered by Barcelona and therefore returning to Manchester United on the same day Lewandowski sets sail.

>This article was originally published on Forbes.com