Atlético Madrid allegedly granted Julián Álvarez permission to negotiate with Barcelona

Atlético Madrid reportedly provided Julián Álvarez with written permission to discuss a potential transfer to Barcelona, contradicting the club's public stance throughout the summer. While the club maintained that the forward would not be sold to a direct La Liga rival, El Chiringuito TV reports that documentation exists authorizing these negotiations. This claim raises questions regarding the consistency of Atlético’s transfer strategy and the validity of previously alleged unauthorized approaches by Barcelona. Despite reported interest from Arsenal and a suggested €100 million offer from Barcelona, no transfer was finalized before the window closed. Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético until 2030 and continues to participate in team training sessions under Diego Simeone. The emergence of the alleged document, which is expected to be addressed by journalist Jordi Jota, remains the focal point for further clarification on the club's internal dealings.

• 4:00 PMYahoo Sports — Álvarez claim exposes tension in Atlético’s Barcelona stance