A fresh claim about Julian Alvarez’s future has added to the uncertainty around Atletico de Madrid, with Spanish media figure Jota Jordi saying the club gave the Argentina forward written approval to negotiate a move to Barcelona.
Speaking on the television programme El Chiringuito, Jota Jordi said Atletico had not only allowed Alvarez to discuss his future publicly but had also, according to information he had received, provided written authorisation for him to negotiate with Barcelona.
The claim came during a heated discussion with Maria Trisac and Damian Gonzalez as tension increased ahead of the final hours of the transfer window.
Jota Jordi said he would publish evidence and documents on 2 September which he believes will support his account. He claimed one of the conditions Atletico had presented to Alvarez was that he could speak about his situation, while the club would give him the green light to leave for Barcelona.
He also alleged that the situation behind closed doors at Atletico was different from the message being delivered publicly. According to Jota Jordi, comments from manager Diego Simeone and club officials about wanting the Argentina international to remain at the club did not reflect the discussions taking place internally.
Atletico are said by Jota Jordi to be considering Alvarez’s sale for financial reasons. He also claimed the club was concerned about the consequences of keeping a player who was not convinced about continuing in Madrid.
The broadcaster said Atletico’s management had spoken to Alvarez and people close to him about the possibility of a departure, with Arsenal among the clubs discussed as a potential destination.
However, Alvarez is reportedly unwilling to join any other club. Jota Jordi said the forward’s preferred destination, should he leave Atletico, was Barcelona alone.
That stance has left the proposed transfer unresolved with the deadline approaching. Barcelona remain involved in the situation and, according to Jota Jordi, would be prepared to move quickly if Atletico decided to make Alvarez available.
He described the remaining hours of the transfer window as potentially decisive in one of the summer’s most contentious transfer stories. Barcelona’s interest would depend on Atletico opening the door to a sale, while Alvarez’s refusal to consider another destination has kept the possibility of a move to the Catalan club alive.
Atletico are continuing to reshape their squad before the window closes. The club are also examining attacking options and the possibility of Alexander Sørloth leaving, but Alvarez’s future remains the most closely watched issue at the club.
Jota Jordi ended his appearance by insisting that he had personally seen documents and messages connected with the transfer. He promised to make them public in an attempt to prove his version of events.
Attention will therefore remain on the final hours of the market, when it may become clear whether the “green light” described by Jota Jordi actually exists and whether it could ultimately take Alvarez to Barcelona.
