Julián Álvarez, the star of Atlético Madrid, is currently the talk of the town during this summer transfer window, as the player wishes to leave the Rojiblancos and pursue a new step in his career.
Álvarez wants to sign for Barcelona this summer, while Atlético Madrid firmly refuses to sell the player to the Blaugrana, preferring the Argentine international's departure to the English Premier League, amid Arsenal's interest in acquiring the 26-year-old.
Miguel Ángel Méndez, the former journalist at Radio Marca, discussed the full story behind Atlético Madrid's stubbornness in selling Álvarez to Barcelona and the player's situation with the Rojiblancos.
Miguel Ángel Méndez said in statements quoted by the newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo': "At the end of last year, Julián Álvarez had many doubts for several reasons, including his failure to score goals. On a personal level, he had just welcomed a newborn child and was feeling somewhat frustrated at Atlético Madrid."
Read also... Atlético Madrid sets conditions for selling Álvarez to Arsenal
He added: "Atlético Madrid wanted to support Álvarez after the birth of his son, so they sent him an encouraging message. The club told him: 'We have full faith in your abilities and want to make you the highest-paid player at Atlético Madrid.' However, Julián's response was that he did not feel comfortable; he was not satisfied with the team's playing style, although he did not state this publicly nor make any personal statements."
Miguel Ángel Méndez conveyed Atlético Madrid's message to Álvarez's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, which was as follows: "As you wish, we will not keep a player who does not want to stay here. If Álvarez insists, for whatever reason, on not feeling comfortable or happy, we will not wait for him. However, do not submit any offers to us because we have a season to compete in. If you present a financially rewarding offer for Álvarez after the end of the season, and the player announces he wants to leave, then we will sit down and discuss the matter. But the offer will never be less than the amount we demand, nor will it come at a time other than what we specify."
Mundo Deportivo clarified that Atlético Madrid expected to receive an offer of €150 million for Álvarez, which would provide liquidity to replace the player, but the Spanish capital club did not apply these conditions with Barcelona.
Regarding Atlético Madrid's anger towards both Barcelona and Álvarez, Miguel Ángel Méndez answered: "The reason for Miguel Ángel Gil Marín's anger is that, despite his warnings to Álvarez's agent against putting pressure on the player, the agent ultimately destabilized the player himself. Meanwhile, Álvarez's agent held talks with Barcelona, which Atlético Madrid confirmed took place under strange circumstances before the two teams' matches in the Copa del Rey semifinals and the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. In fact, Atlético Madrid mentioned this incident in its complaint against Barcelona filed with the Royal Spanish Football Federation."
Méndez affirmed that, given Álvarez's failure to comply with the conditions set with Atlético Madrid regarding his potential departure, the Spanish capital club is now in a position of strength and holds the key to determining the Argentine star's future. He concluded: "However, after last season ended and no official offers arrived to sign Álvarez, Atlético Madrid considered the possibility of the player leaving to be impossible."
Relations between Álvarez and Atlético Madrid are extremely tense, as the player faced numerous boos during Atléti's match against Villarreal last Sunday in the La Liga competition.
