Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are preparing for a frostier-than-usual encounter in Monaco for the Champions League draw following a public spat over Julian Alvarez. Relationships between the two Spanish heavyweights have hit a new low after Joan Laporta’s public pursuit of the Argentine forward met a blistering response from the capital club.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly confirmed that the Catalan giants remain firmly in the hunt for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. Despite heavy competition from the Premier League and tension between the two Spanish clubs, the Blaugrana are refusing to give up on their primary attacking target.
Julian Alvarez has reportedly ignored a phone call from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as he looks to avoid a return to the Premier League. Atletico Madrid are eager to sell the unhappy striker to fund new signings, but Barcelona are waiting patiently for a domestic deal to materialise.
Julian Alvarez finds himself at the centre of a heated storm in the Spanish capital after his public attempts to engineer a move away from Atletico Madrid backfired spectacularly. The Argentine forward, once a fan favourite, is now facing heavy criticism for his conduct while Premier League heavyweights Arsenal watch the situation with interest.