Atletico Madrid denies any chance of selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona

Atletico Madrid released a vehement statement asserting there is "zero per cent chance" of selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona this summer, labeling the club and the player's representatives as creators of a "campaign of lies and half-truths." The 26-year-old, contracted through 2030, has indicated a preference for Barcelona, whose president Joan Laporta confirmed the club's interest and urged Atletico to accept an offer, which so far totals €100m. Meanwhile, Arsenal is still tracking the saga and could present a package involving another forward such as Viktor Gyokeres or Gabriel Jesus, with manager Mikel Arteta keen on bolstering his attack.

Alvarez was booed after a substitute appearance against Villarreal and missed a training session, which the club attributed to illness. With the transfer deadline a week away, Atletico aims to have the player available for their LaLiga fixture in Sevilla, while insisting the dispute is about dignity rather than money.