Atletico block Alvarez's Barcelona move as agent denies depression claims

Julian Alvarez’s agent has publicly denied that the Argentina forward is suffering from depression, as Atletico Madrid hold firm in their refusal to sanction a move to Barcelona. Alvarez returned to the Atletico training ground on Friday after missing sessions earlier in the week, though he worked apart from his teammates for part of the session.

The absence had triggered speculation about Alvarez’s mental state amid his stalled push to join Barcelona. Speaking to 365Scores, agent Fernando Hidalgo dismissed those claims as unfounded, stating that no medical report had been submitted to Atletico’s management indicating the player was experiencing a psychological crisis. Hidalgo’s comments addressed the mental-health rumours specifically and did not speak to the reported illness that kept Alvarez out of training earlier in the week.

Atletico chief Gil Marin has acknowledged that Alvarez is unhappy with his current situation at the club, a candid admission that has only added fuel to the speculation surrounding the forward. Despite that, the club has issued a statement making clear they will not sell him to Barcelona and are expecting him to reintegrate fully into Diego Simeone’s squad ahead of their next La Liga fixture.

The standoff places Alvarez in a difficult position. He has reportedly made his desire to leave known, but Atletico’s refusal to deal with Barcelona leaves him without an obvious exit route before the transfer window closes. Reports have also linked him with interest from Premier League clubs, though no concrete offer from England has emerged publicly.

For now, the focus at Atletico shifts to whether Alvarez can put the turbulent week behind him and return to full training alongside his teammates. Simeone will be keen to have one of his most important attacking players available and focused, regardless of the transfer noise swirling around him.