Julián Álvarez, Atlético de Madrid player desired by FC Barcelona, is today the epicenter of a harsh battle that has gone beyond mere negotiation between two clubs to become a tangled matter touching the personal pride of those involved. Especially that of Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO of the Atlético club, who accuses Barça of acting with “falseness” and “lack of ethics,” among other niceties.
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“In life, everything can be reversed as long as we have health,” Simeone said yesterday. But Julián Álvarez is not feeling well. He has not trained for three days due to a “malaise.” In the only match played at the Metropolitano, he left alone to the locker room tunnel. Booed by his fans.
In life, everything can be reversed as long as we have health”
Simeone
Gil Marín assures that Julián is “really bad” because “they have taken care to deceive him.” He refers, in part, to his agent, Fernando Hidalgo, who days ago published: “Never ask a liar why he lied. To explain himself, he would have to lie.” The agent alluded to the supposed promise made by the CEO in February to let Julián leave (without specifying nor vetoing Barça as a destination) if an offer of 150 million arrived before June 20. It was not 150. But Barça did present one of 100 million that never received a response. In return, a series of tweets with mockery arrived.
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After Julián’s public statements at the World Cup, Atlético feels wounded in its pride and Gil Marín has taken the matter as an affront. In fact, he filed a complaint against Barcelona in July, considering that they had tried to sign the Argentine following “inappropriate procedures” with a player under contract until 2030.
The Board, that of the Apollo investment fund, supports him. And, in the Champions League group stage draw, the CEO appeared on Movistar to launch another dart, sharper if possible: “We are disgusted by Barça’s falseness and lack of ethics.”
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Gil Marín’s reaction shows anger and wounded pride. Especially because now he is willing to listen to offers for Julián as long as they are not from Barça. Arsenal was even mentioned, an option the player discarded.
Barça did not expect this aggressiveness
Barça did not expect this aggressiveness. And understands that Atlético can cling to the contract and the 500 million clause, but not to decide the destination of a player who wants to leave. Even more so when, according to Laporta’s account – who explained the negotiations in a video three days ago – Atlético’s initial argument for not sitting down to talk was that “they did not have a replacement for Julián.”
Simeone tries to put out the fire with less and less desire. Mateu Alemany, sporting director who left Barça, avoids attending events of friends he has in Barcelona to not fuel the fire.
And the player? He was Flick’s first and only option who prefers to wait until January. The market ends Tuesday. And, at this rate, neither Barça nor Atlético will have the desired number nine.
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