Barcelona sporting director Deco has publicly addressed the club's failed pursuit of Julian Alvarez, rejecting accusations of unethical conduct from Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana tabled a €100 million offer structured over three seasons, but the Spanish capital club refused to negotiate and subsequently filed complaints with both the RFEF and FIFA alleging tapping up.
Speaking to RAC1, Deco outlined Barcelona's position with clarity. "We made a formal and fair offer," he stated, emphasizing that the club acted professionally throughout negotiations. The Catalan giants had identified the Argentine forward as their primary replacement target after Robert Lewandowski's departure. Deco noted that alternative payment structures existed across the industry, explaining that Barcelona's three-year installment plan was standard practice rather than a red flag.
Alvarez's Public Comments and Media Pressure
Tensions escalated when Alvarez expressed his desire to leave Atletico during the World Cup period. Atletico responded with a scathing statement, unanimously blocking the transfer and accusing Barcelona of manipulating the media. Deco firmly denied that Barcelona instructed the player to force a move publicly. "Barca did not tell Julian to publicly express his desire to leave Atletico," he clarified. "You can't keep bringing up the same issue all the time. It's much more a matter of social pressure than reality."
The sporting director's comments reflect a broader frustration with how the transfer saga played out in the press. Barcelona maintained they communicated respectfully with Atletico from the outset, receiving only a flat refusal from the beginning. Despite their efforts, the La Liga champions were forced to pivot their attacking strategy, eventually signing Gabriel Jesus and securing Karim Adeyemi to strengthen their forward line.
Alvarez's Return and Atletico's Season
Alvarez was initially excluded from Atletico's opening La Liga fixture amid the transfer controversy but has since been reintegrated into Diego Simeone's squad. He returned as a substitute during a 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club and travelled with the team for their Champions League opener against Liverpool, where Atletico lost 2-1 on Merseyside. The Argentine international's future now firmly lies in Madrid as both clubs move forward with their respective campaigns this season.
