Agent of Atletico Madrid superstar rubbishes Barcelona links – “No meeting with Deco” | OneFootball

Planning ahead for the upcoming summer transfer window, Barcelona have one eye on young strikers who can serve as a pillar of the team’s project for long-term planning.

After all, Robert Lewandowski is slowly but surely nearing the end of his playing career and Barcelona does not want to be left hanging when he does eventually call it a day.

Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, on that front, has emerged as an option that the Catalans are seriously interested in. Should they return to the financial 1:1 rule, he is said to be a dream target for the board.

Alvarez’s agent speaks

Alvarez’s contract with Atletico Madrid is until 2030. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The Argentine striker’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, spoke to the media earlier today and was asked about the World Cup winner’s future at the club during the same.

Staying professional and honest, he shifted the topic by stating that the player’s contract with Atletico Madrid must be respected and that any interested clubs have to contact Los Rojiblancos.

“Any club interested in Julián should contact the board of Atlético de Madrid, since the player has a contract and is committed to him,” he said via SPORT.

He was then asked if he had met any Barcelona representative so far, as word has it across Spain. Hidalgo, however, outright refused and called the bluff.

“It is not true, I have not met with Deco or anyone from Barcelona during the current period.”

While Barcelona’s interest has definitely reached the player, signing him will be a completely different challenge for a plethora of reasons.

For starters, his contract with Los Rojiblancos runs until the summer of 203, giving Atletico Madrid no reason to rush into a sale.

Further, the chance that Diego Simeone’s side will sell the star to a direct competitor is very low, even given Alvarez’s open desire to play for Barcelona at some point in his career.