Atlético Madrid Stands Firm on Julián: No Sale at Any Price
Atlético Madrid has sent a thunderous message to Barcelona and to the rest of Europe: Julián is not for sale. Not now. Not for €100 million. Not for €150 million. Not even for €200 million.
Speaking to EFE, a senior Atlético figure framed the issue not as a simple transfer saga, but as a test of the club’s identity.
“Atlético, like all great clubs, is built with great players, and I’m certain that Julián is one, as well as a great professional. We must compete based on our values, with homegrown talent and with the best players from outside that we can bring in,” he said, underlining where the Argentine forward sits in the club’s long-term plan.
For Atlético, Julián is not just another asset. He is the centrepiece.
“My opinion is clear, the club’s will is clear, we have made this clear to the player and his agent, and to the Barça president. I have no doubt that Atlético is the right place in the world for Julián, and Julián is the perfect striker for Atlético Madrid. We want to keep him.”
The stance hardened when the conversation turned to Barcelona president Joan Laporta and his public comments about the operation.
“I simply heard some statements from the president (Laporta), saying that his offer wasn’t open-ended. And our response is that our answer is indeed open-ended; we don’t want to transfer him. We didn’t accept the €100 million offer, nor will we accept one of €150 million or €200 million.”
No room for negotiation. No softening of language. Atlético are drawing the line with numbers that usually bend knees across Europe.
Protecting Their No. 9
Behind the rhetoric lies a sporting concern: Atlético believe they need Julián at his peak to stay in the elite.
“We are going to help Julián and continue to take care of him so that he can give us his full potential, because we need him to keep competing among the best in Europe,” the club figure stressed.
The message carried a pointed criticism too. The club feels the player’s recent entourage has not always served his interests.
“We must understand that Julián hasn’t had the best advisors around him regarding his professional career in recent months,” he added, hinting at external pressure and noise around the forward’s future.
A Wider Battle With the Giants
This is not only about one striker. Atlético see a pattern: bigger clubs, louder media, and a constant attempt to unsettle.
“That other clubs and their affiliated media tell us what to do, dictate our sporting strategy, and disrespect us. That’s precisely what they want: to divide us,” he warned.
The power imbalance is obvious. The response is defiance.
“It’s clear we’re not as powerful as them, but we have values. We Atlético fans won’t allow them to corrupt us. Atleti is strong when we’re all together.”
The message to Barcelona is blunt. The message to Julián is protective. The message to the Atlético fanbase is rallying.
The market will keep circling. The offers may rise. But for now, Atlético Madrid has chosen its side: keep the striker, keep the project, and fight the giants on its own terms.
