“I’d like to join Barcelona” – Julian Alvarez’s conversation with Atletico Madrid revealed | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez publicly declared his desire to leave the club on Monday night, following Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria at the World Cup. The star forward surprised many with his timing, and while he did not mention Barcelona, it would appear to confirm reports that he is keen to make the switch to Camp Nou.

Alvarez, 26, told the press on Monday that “the best for everyone would be a transfer,” and that “I want to fulfil my dream,” after months of speculation over his future. Real Madrid have had a €150m bid for Alvarez turned down, but Barcelona have for the most part been regarded as the side most interested in him. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have also been heavily linked with Alvarez.

Julian Alvarez’s conversation with Atletico Madrid

Previously, it had already been claimed that Alvarez had told Atletico that he was keen to leave the club, and Cadena SER have now revealed details of that conversation. Towards the end of the season, as Atletico held their final training sessions of the year, Atletico pulled Alvarez aside to find out if there was any veracity to the stories about his future.

Alvarez is quoted verbatim as telling a ‘high-up figure at Atletico’ that “If there’s a big offer, I would like to leave. And I would like to join Barcelona.”

Atletico Madrid CEO against Alvarez sale

Nevertheless, there are those at Atletico willing to dig in to keep him at the club, and given his €500m release clause, they will have the final say. Offers have arrived from Arsenal and PSG, but so far Alvarez has turned them down, as he holds out for a move to the Blaugrana. SER go on to say that CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is determined not to sell Alvarez though, which could be a major obstacle.