Julián Álvarez at FC Barcelona: the ultimatum has expired!

Atlético still refuses to let go of its striker and keeps legal pressure on Barça

Europe Today at 16:30

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Julián Álvarez at FC Barcelona: the ultimatum has expired!

The deadline set by Joan Laporta has now passed, but FC Barcelona has not yet definitively given up on Julián Álvarez.

The Julián Álvarez saga could be heading for a decisive turning point. The July 31 deadline set by Joan Laporta is now in the rearview mirror. The FC Barcelona president was clear that his offer wouldn't be on the table forever. Without an extension of this deadline or a new proposal, the operation now looks significantly out of reach.

Barça remains interested in the Argentine striker, but will now have to rethink its strategy to reopen talks. The Catalan offer was reportedly around €100 million, a sum the Madrid leadership considers insufficient.

Atlético stands firm

The stance of Atlético de Madrid has not changed. Los Colchoneros are especially unwilling to let their top scorer join a direct rival for domestic titles. Julián Álvarez is under contract until June 2030, and his release clause is set at a staggering €500 million.

Yet the Argentine international is said to be open to a move. This situation puts Atlético in a real dilemma: keeping a player eager to leave could spark internal tensions, while selling him to Barça would directly strengthen a major rival. No other clubs currently appear ready to make a concrete move.

Legal proceedings against Barça continue

This tension is nothing new. Atlético had already announced its intention to file an official complaint against Barça over the Julián Álvarez case. The Madrid club accuses the Catalans of negotiating with a player still under contract without their permission.

The Spanish Federation has since opened a disciplinary procedure to examine the alleged contacts between the parties. Barça denies any wrongdoing and now has the chance to present its case.

At this stage, no sanctions have been imposed on the Catalan club or Julián Álvarez. The expiration of the offer does not end the investigation, as it concerns alleged events prior to July 31.