5 Things We Learned From the Julián Alvarez and FC Barcelona Saga | OneFootball

For nearly two months, Julián Alvarez and FC Barcelona have been at the center of one of the most heated transfer sagas in European soccer. Leaked reports, public complaints, federation investigations, social media warfare and increasingly hostile statements have turned what could have been a straightforward transfer into one of the biggest soup operas of the summer.

And after all that, Alvarez is still an Atlético Madrid player.

The transfer that never happened has revealed plenty about the relationship between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, Alvarez’s intentions and the increasingly complicated politics of Spanish soccer.

Here are five things we learned from the Julián Alvarez and FC Barcelona saga.

1. Atlético Madrid and Barcelona’s Relationship Is Basically Non-Existent

Forget Julián Alvarez for a moment and look at the history between these two clubs. Atlético Madrid and Barcelona have had an increasingly hostile relationship for years, and this summer has pushed it to another level.

Nine years ago, Atlético reported Barcelona to FIFA over an alleged unauthorized approach for Antoine Griezmann. Atlético were furious that Barcelona had begun exploring a deal for their star forward without properly informing the club.

Griezmann eventually joined Barcelona, further damaging relations between the two clubs. When Barcelona later allowed him to return to Atlético, the relationship remained complicated.

Julián Alvarez resurfaced all those tensions

Atlético once again accused Barcelona of making an unauthorized approach for one of their players. Because Alvarez remains under contract through 2030, Atlético took the matter to FIFA and the Spanish federation, leading to a disciplinary investigation. As of this article’s publication, the investigation is still underway.

Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín also publicly criticized Barcelona, accusing the Catalan club of behaving as though Atlético were a weaker institution that could simply be pushed around.

Atlético’s social media accounts have been busy all summer posting content mocking Barcelona, including mock images involving Barça players such as Lamine Yamal in Atlético kits.

2. Alvarez doesn’t have the guts to do an Isak

Last summer, Alexander Isak found himself in a similar situation at Newcastle United. Liverpool wanted the Swedish striker and had reportedly agreed personal terms with him, but Newcastle refused to negotiate. The club maintained that Isak was part of its plans and was not for sale.

But Alexander Isak was built different.

He posted an angry statement on social media accusing Newcastle of breaking promises. He boycotted the club’s training sessions and went to train with his former team Real Sociedad. Despite being fined and missing the start of the season, Isak continued to put pressure on the club and eventually Newcastle caved and allowed Liverpool to complete the transfer. Isak never apologized to anyone, was aggressive throughout, and while the process was immoral and unethical, he got his move.

Alvarez could have done the same, but didn’t. The only thing he did was during the World Cup, he told a reporter that a transfer would fulfill his dream and said a move away would be the best for all parties involved. His agents demanded a meeting with the Atleti suits to discuss this further.

But Atleti maintained their stance, and Julian went quiet.

Aside from a sad photoshoot for the club’s website, which looks like a mugshot considering he is now in Atleti prison, Julian hasn’t made any attempts to force the club’s hand. He was left out of a preseason friendly, abused by fans chanting his name in a match when he didn’t even play, and posters and graffiti demanding “Julián Fuera” (Julián Out) have popped up around Madrid.

Alvarez is still quiet.

3. Gil Marín is the only reason a move isn’t happening

Sources close to Alvarez have suggested all summer that there was an understanding between Julian and the Atleti board that he’d be allowed to leave if he wished to. It was a promise, a non-verbal contract.

If this was true, Marín has since gone back on his words, not honoring that verbal promise and holding out on sending Julián to Barcelona. $115 million rejected, $140 million rejected, $175 million rejected.

He is the only one who keeps pointing out Alvarez’s $580 million release clause every time Barça knock at Atleti’s door. That figure is double the world record transfer fee that Neymar’s departure to PSG set nine years ago; a completely irrational target whose sole purpose is to block any transfer from happening. As long as Gil Marín doesn’t change his stance, Julián Alvarez and FC Barcelona won’t meet each other.

Club Sentiments around Alvarez are changing

Atlético Madrid has been very consistent in the messaging surrounding Alvarez. President Enrique Cerezo says Alvarez is not for sale. Diego Simeone said that he agreed with the decisions of the board. Mateu Alemany, sporting director, says that Julián will stay. .

But as pressure builds from outside and the image of Madrid being a prison starts to slowly spread across social media, the sentiment within the club appears to be changing. This is also true among the supporters. Fans in preseason said Alvarez had to stay, but now have changed their mind.

The ego game has become too big for Atleti to handle. When Atleti started this saga, they never expected it would be so huge.

4. Alvarez will only move to Barcelona

If there was ever any doubt whether Alvarez really wants Barcelona or not, the short-lived flirtation with Arsenal settled it.

At one stage this summer, Atleti had opened the doors for Alvarez’s departure, but not to his dream club. When Real Madrid, PSG and Arsenal were all interested, Atleti didn’t complain. Alvarez and Mikel Arteta reportedly even had conversations over the phone, and Atleti were ready to accept bids to send Alvarez to London.

But Julián said no.

Alvarez wants to leave Atleti, but only for his dream club Barcelona. He doesn’t want to move to the English champions, one of the strongest teams in Europe, and lead them to glory in a familiar environment. He wants to be the final piece in the Barça puzzle and fulfill his dream.

This just goes on to further show that Atleti have an agenda against Barça and only Barça. Anywhere is good as long as it’s not the Catalan club. It’s quite romantic on Alvarez’s part, who is an Argentine who grew up idolizing Leo Messi and wanting to walk in his footsteps at Barça. But a stubborn club called Atleti stands in their way.

5. Big players might think twice about joining Atlético Madrid from now on

This whole “we won’t sell to Barça” saga is ironic, because the two times that Atleti actually won La Liga this century (2013/14 and 2020/21), Barça sold them players that facilitated the triumph. David Villa arrived in July 2013; Luis Suárez in September 2020. So this animosity is clearly a one-way street. But for any player that holds a dream of playing at the Camp Nou for the home side will now know their road cannot pass through Atleti.

And then there’s the recent treatment of Julián Alvarez. When his took the pitch Villarreal at the Metropolitano, the boos were deafening. Fans were gesturing obscenities towards him, calling him slurs and genuinely hating him for going against the club. Julian was booed with every touch, and he didn’t even stick around to applaud the fans with his teammates.

Honestly, not applauding the fans was the first serious action Julián has taken all summer.

But other players will be watching this saga unfold, and seeing how belligerent Atlético (and their fans) are being won’t make the club a first choice destination.

There is still a week for the window to close. But whether Alvarez stays or goes, it has been a sour summer for Atlético Madrid, Julián Alvarez and FC Barcelona.