Atletico Madrid have been making waves on social media today, aiming various digs at Barcelona amid speculation the Catalans want to sign Julian Alvarez.
Los Colchoneros posted bizarre messages about trying to sign Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha and Deco on X and followed all that up with a video of a dog in a lion wig. Or something.
An Atletico source has now spoken to Mundo Deportivo to try and explain what on earth is going on in the heads of those in the Spanish capital right now.
“It might seem like a joke or a bit humorous, but this is very serious. We’ve been very angry with FC Barcelona for some time now. It was done ironically, to hold a mirror up to the Catalan club and show them what they’re doing,” explained the source
“The messages from Fabrizio Romano , those from the press that covers the team—like when Cerezo goes to Barcelona for lunch and they bombard him with impertinent questions about whether he’s going to negotiate with Laporta for Julián —the way they treat our players in the mixed zone…
“They organize a dinner in Barcelona and alert El Chiringuito so they can film it, so Juanma López (a player agent and supposed mediator in this matter) is seen leaving the restaurant.”
The source added that “They leak an offer that we claim has been sent, but nothing has arrived here” and then went on to say “It’s over. We’re very angry and this was our way of showing it.”
Atletico have also gone on to make it clear once again that they don’t want to sell Alvarez: “Julián can’t be signed with a fixed fee, paid in installments over several seasons with some variables. It’s a €500 million cash payment that needs to be deposited at LaLiga headquarters.”
This saga appears to have officially turned ugly.