Atletico Madrid accuse Barcelona of running smear campaign over Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid have issued a furious public statement accusing Barcelona of orchestrating a “pre-established campaign” to unsettle Julian Alvarez, insisting no offer has been received and no meeting has taken place over the Argentina international.

The rebuke, published in Marca, marks a significant escalation in what has become one of the summer’s most contentious transfer stories. Barcelona are pursuing Alvarez as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski and are reportedly preparing an opening bid, though it is expected to fall well short of Atletico’s reported €150m asking price.

“There has been no offer for our player or any meeting,” Atletico’s statement read. “We are tired of months of lies, half-truths, harassment of our players in mixed zones and absurd questions that are part of a pre-established campaign.”

The club were also careful to separate Alvarez from the controversy surrounding him, praising his conduct throughout the speculation. “It’s a matter of agents,” the statement continued. “Julián has had an exquisite behaviour at all times. He has left his skin on the pitch and has shown maximum professionalism at all times. We know that all this noise has not been caused by him, he has always behaved perfectly.”

Atletico have consistently maintained that Alvarez is central to their long-term project and have no intention of selling him in the upcoming transfer window, regardless of interest from Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain. That position, now stated in unusually combative public terms, leaves Barcelona in a difficult position heading into the summer.

Alvarez remains the Catalan club’s stated priority target, but with Atletico showing no willingness to negotiate, Barcelona may ultimately be forced to explore alternative options — though that process is unlikely to begin until they have exhausted all avenues for a deal.