Atletico Madrid has firmly stated there is "0% chance" of transferring Julian Alvarez to Barcelona after club president Joan Laporta expressed ongoing interest in the forward. This declaration follows a summer filled with intense transfer speculation surrounding Alvarez, who faced boos from Atletico supporters during a recent draw with Villarreal.

Reports indicated that Alvarez missed training on Wednesday due to illness, prompting Atletico to respond strongly to Laporta's recent comments. In a video, Laporta claimed that Barcelona's €100m (£85.7m) offer for Alvarez remains valid. Atletico countered by emphasizing:

• "This is not about money; it's about dignity."
• "The player is being victimised, but the only victim in the Julian case is us."
• "There is a campaign of many lies and half-truths. The only one paying for this is Atletico."

Despite the turmoil, sources at Barcelona suggest they are committed to pursuing Alvarez until the transfer window closes. The situation is further complicated by interest from Arsenal, who see Alvarez as a prime target, yet sources indicate that Alvarez prefers to remain in Spain.

During the recent match, Alvarez was met with jeers from the crowd upon his substitution in the 66th minute and opted to bypass post-match applause, which drew additional boos. Atleti manager Diego Simeone suggested that Alvarez's early exit was a pre-agreed decision.

As the 1 September deadline approaches, the ongoing exchanges between Atletico and Barcelona keep Alvarez's future in the spotlight, making him one of the most talked-about players in this transfer window.