Barça receives clear signal: ‘Hij remains an Atlético Madrid player’

Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético Madrid, told Spanish journalists that Julián Álvarez will continue at the club next season, sending a clear signal to Barça that ‘Hij is and will remain a player of ours’ despite recent transfer rumours linking the Argentine striker with the Catalan giants.

In recent weeks the Argentine attacker has been prominently linked with a move to FC Barcelona, fueling speculation across Spaanse media.

‘Hij (Álvarez) is a player of Atlético Madrid. Listen, Joan Laporta is a good friend. He is a great president and Laporta knows, just like you, exactly where Álvarez will play next year,’ Cerezo began.

The Spanish press pressed for clarification, to which Cerezo replied, ‘I repeat once more: Julián Álvarez is a player of Atlético Madrid and he will be a player of Atlético Madrid forever. Do not ask me again, otherwise there will be no more questions.’

Álvarez, the Argentijnse striker, previously expressed his desire to move, stating, ‘I want to fulfil my dreams. I have spoken with the people at the club, with the people I need to speak to. The best for my future is to make a transfer.’

Atlético Madrid also announced it will lodge a formal complaint with FIFA against the Spanish champions, accusing Barcelona of negotiating while the Argentine forward was still under contract and in the protected period.