Atletico Madrid has made it clear that striker Julian Alvarez is not available for transfer, despite interest from Barcelona, who are looking to strengthen their forward line with Robert Lewandowski's potential departure. Atletico Madrid's president, Enrique Cerezo, has repeatedly stated that Alvarez, who was signed from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 for €75 million plus add-ons, is under contract until 2030 and has a staggering release clause of €500 million. This makes any transfer highly unlikely, as Atletico is confident that Alvarez will not seek an exit. Furthermore, discussions regarding a potential player-swap deal involving Marc Casado, a La Masia graduate, have also been dismissed, as Atletico does not see him fitting into their plans. The possibility of including Ferran Torres as a bargaining chip has similarly been ruled out by both clubs.