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Atlético Rejects €100 m Barcelona Bid, Vows to Keep Álvarez

7/18/2026

32 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Atlético Madrid president Enrique Cerezo said the club will not sell Julián Álvarez this summer.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced a substantial limited-time offer and will keep pursuing Álvarez after the World Cup.
Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil rejected a €100 million bid and said the club would refuse €150 million or €200 million offers.
Álvarez, 26, told ESPN he wants a change after two seasons.

History

Historical Context

In 2009 Florentino Pérez completed Real Madrid’s €94 million (?£80 million) purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo, the world-record fee that epitomised his Galáctico policy of signing superstars each summer. Decades later, Atlético Madrid president Enrique Cerezo’s refusal of Barcelona’s bid for Julián Álvarez shows clubs still guard against runaway offers, a legacy of those record-breaking deals.

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Story summary

Atlético Madrid president Enrique Cerezo said the club will not sell Julián Álvarez this summer.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced a substantial limited-time offer and will keep pursuing Álvarez after the World Cup.
Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil rejected a €100 million bid and said the club would refuse €150 million or €200 million offers.
Álvarez, 26, told ESPN he wants a change after two seasons.

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