Atletico Madrid president firm on Barcelona target’s future – ‘I will decide when he has to leave’ | OneFootball

With FC Barcelona set to take on Atletico Madrid later tonight at the Spotify Camp Nou, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, board members from both clubs met in the afternoon for the traditional pre-match lunch.

Heading up to the meeting, Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo was asked about the future of star forward Julian Alvarez, who is a target for Barcelona.

Indeed, the Blaugrana have their sights set on a move for the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner for the summer, with one of Ferran Torres or Robert Lewandowski expected to leave.

However, Los Colchoneros have no intention of letting Alvarez leave, especially to join a direct rival like Barcelona.

Cerezo, for his part, has time and again reaffirmed the club’s stance on the striker’s future, insisting that he has a long-term contract with Atletico.

So, when once again asked whether Alvarez will remain at the Metropolitano beyond next season, the Atletico Madrid president ironically responded to the journalist:

“Can you guarantee that you’ll still be alive at the end of the year?” 

After a fellow journalist replied that Alvarez has a contract with Atletico and that the journalist has one with God, Cerezo hilariously replied:

“Well, imagine that I am God and I will decide when he has to leave.”

Given Atletico Madrid’s firm and unwavering stance regarding Alvarez’s future, Barcelona are starting to have serious doubts about a move for the Argentine international.