Barcelona’s bid for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez remains on the table, despite the club’s public spat with Atletico. The £100m offer, which has been rejected by Atletico in the past, is still being considered by Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta.
According to Laporta, the offer is firm and will not be withdrawn, but he also hinted that the club could raise their bid after the World Cup. “I spoke with Gil Marín. He told me they were not planning to let him go, but the offer is firm and we stand by it,” Laporta said. “It remains on the table and the deal could still go through, but the offer is not open-ended. Atletico said no because they didn’t have a replacement. If they get one, we will see.”
The interest in Alvarez has not gone unnoticed by other clubs, with Arsenal and PSG also showing interest in the striker. However, Alvarez’s family has expressed a desire to continue living in Spain, which could make it difficult for him to leave Atletico. Privately, Atletico are understood to be more open to the idea of selling him to Arsenal or PSG if Alvarez demands to leave the Metropolitano for any club.
The relationship between Barcelona and Atletico has been strained in recent times, with a public spat on social media between the two clubs. This has made it even more unlikely that Atletico will sell Alvarez to Barcelona. Real Madrid had a £130m bid for Alvarez rejected by Atletico in June, which suggests that the club is willing to hold out for a high price.
The World Cup will be a key factor in the negotiations between Barcelona and Atletico. Alvarez will be on holiday after the tournament, and it is likely that there will be talks with Atletico’s hierarchy about his future. If Alvarez and his family are open to the idea of moving abroad, it could change the dynamics of the negotiations. However, as it stands, Alvarez looks more likely to stay at Atletico unless either he or the club are willing to give ground.
Source: Sky Sports
