An excessive fuss

BarcelonaMiguel Ángel Gil Marín appeared after the Champions League draw in Monaco and said the following: “We are disgusted by falsehood, lack of ethics, transparency, and professionalism, and we can only insist that we will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances.” In the mother of all tantrums, the white-and-red CEO lashed out at Barça with a tone bordering on rudeness, which is surprising given the facts.

Joan Laporta explained this very week that he spoke directly with Gil Marín to express Barça's desire to sign Julián Álvarez and that his response was that they had no intention of selling him under any circumstances because they had no replacement. Furthermore, faced with the blaugrana club's public offer of 100 million euros, Atlético responded from the club's official account on the social network X with a series of jokes aimed at ridiculing Barça.

Laporta, in a gesture that can be interpreted both as support for the player after he stated at the World Cup that he wanted to leave Atleti, and as pressure, confirmed that they were still interested in Julián because they had learned that Arsenal was indeed an option for the Madrid entity, as Gil Marín himself confirmed in Monaco: “If Julián wants to leave Atlético, we would look for an alternative, but never, ever would it be Barcelona.” The question, therefore, is obvious: Where is the lack of transparency, ethics, and professionalism that so repulses him?

That Atlético and its fans are angry with the player and his representative after paying 75 million euros plus 20 in variables to Manchester City for a footballer who, at the first opportunity and with three more years of contract in force, states that he wants to leave “to fulfill his dream” is logical. They have a problem with a key striker for the project, as Simeone stated upon returning from vacation.

Julián has not shown up for training for three days because he is emotionally crushed, the market is ending, and Atlético is running out of time to sign, but Barça is not to blame for this. They made an offer which they maintain and will not be the first club to speak with a contracted player, including, of course, Atlético. The tantrum is excessive, but they must know what they are doing.