Atlético Madrid Stands Firm on Julián: No Sale for €100m, €150m, or €200m

Atlético Madrid has sent a thunderous message to Barcelona and 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 laid out the club’s stance with unusual bluntness, turning what had been a transfer saga into a statement of 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,” he said. “We must compete based on our values, with homegrown talent and with the best players from outside that we can bring in.”

The message was clear: Julián is not just another asset on the market. He is central to how Atlético see themselves competing with Europe’s elite.

The Perfect Striker for Atlético Madrid

From the club’s point of view, there is no debate.

“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,” he stressed. “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.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had suggested that their offer for the forward would not remain on the table indefinitely. That remark did not go unnoticed in Madrid.

“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 at a higher bid. Atlético are trying to shut the door and bolt it.

Protecting a Key Asset – and Calling Out His Entourage

Behind the defiance lies a sporting calculation. Atlético see Julián as vital to their ability to stay among Europe’s best.

“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 continued.

Then came a pointed remark aimed not at Barcelona, but at the player’s inner circle.

“We must understand that Julián hasn’t had the best advisors around him regarding his professional career in recent months,” he added.

It was a rare public rebuke of a player’s entourage, hinting at tensions around how the situation has been handled and who has been whispering in the striker’s ear.

“They Want to Divide Us”

The transfer battle has spilled beyond boardrooms and agents, into media and fan spaces. Atlético believe there is a broader power play at work.

“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 said.

The contrast was drawn sharply: financial muscle on one side, values on the other.

“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.”

In a market where almost every player has a price, Atlético are trying to make Julián the exception. The question now is simple: will that stance hold when the next offer lands, or has the club just set the tone for the rest of their season?