Julián Álvarez Transfer Speculations

When, yes, a month ago I told you and the Atleti fans that Julián Álvarez is not staying at Atlético de Madrid,

that Atleti already know internally that it's hard to keep him, internally, even if outwardly they say no,

it's basically because I already knew that Julián had asked the Atleti directors, he had already had a meeting, to leave.

That was the information I had.

That before Madrid's statement, before Barcelona's statement, before Barcelona's offer,

Julián had spoken with the Atleti directors and had already told them that his desire is to take a step forward in his career, that he wanted to leave.

That's why I was so sure that he is not staying and is not going to stay at Atlético de Madrid,

and that Atleti already knows internally that they had to sell him.

That's why Atleti, knowing this, took a tough stance externally to negotiate with more inflexibility and get more money.

Period.

That is the truth.

And now the statement also addresses that.

These are all negotiation strategies, and they are all valid.

And everyone defends their position and defends their interests.

And Atleti defends its assets, and Julián defends his dream and his desire to progress or to play in Barcelona.

Some time ago, Julián told—not him precisely, but someone else—that he wants to leave Atleti for Madrid, that he wants to take a step forward in his career.

That's why I was so convinced at that moment.

I don't just talk for the sake of talking. I don't say something so definitively if I'm not sure that's how it is.

And that's why I maintained my stance.

And I'm going to go further with the information, about something that hasn't come up.

When he talks about fulfilling a dream, well, obviously he means Barcelona.

But if it's not Barcelona, because Atleti is set on him, didn't he sell to Barcelona?

I think Julián could easily end up asking them to accept one of the other offers.

For me, it's already a matter of him wanting a change of scenery, a change of sporting project, a life decision already made, which he already had when he arrived at the World Cup.

For him to say it at this moment is because he really needed to express it.

Otherwise, Julián, who is a very intelligent, polite, and well-grounded person, would never have said anything to step out of line.

He's saying it now because he feels it's the only way, in my opinion, for Barcelona, or for Atleti to Madrid,

Nofi to abandon this inflexible stance, which makes it seem as if Julián had never spoken to anyone

and that these are just offers coming in and they are rejecting them.