Atletico Madrid have drawn a firm line in the sand over Julian Alvarez, with chief executive Miguel Angel Gil declaring that the Argentine striker will never be sold to Barcelona — regardless of any offer on the table.

Speaking to Movistar on Thursday, Gil was unambiguous: "My personal dream is for Julian Alvarez to stay at Atleti. If he wants to leave the club, we will look for an alternative, but he will never, ever, ever go to Barcelona."

The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Barca after the club's president Joan Laporta publicly expressed his desire to sign him earlier this week. Alvarez is also said to be considering a switch to Arsenal.

A question of dignity

Atletico issued a formal statement earlier on Thursday that made their position plain, accusing Barcelona of failing to meet the basic standards of professional conduct during their pursuit of the striker.

"Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner. We fully stand behind the club's previously communicated position that FC Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, as a result, there will not be any negotiation, and there is zero consideration of an Alvarez transfer to Barcelona."

Gil went further in his interview, suggesting that forces outside the club have deliberately misled Alvarez. "Julian is in poor health. There are people who have taken it upon themselves to deceive and confuse him, and he is going through a difficult situation," he said. "We are outraged and repulsed by this lack of ethics."

Atletico had also gone on record with Marca, Spain's most widely read sports daily, insisting the matter transcends finances. "The player is being portrayed as the victim, but we are the only victims in this case," the club told the newspaper. "There is a zero-per-cent chance of selling him to Barcelona — it's not about money, it's about dignity."

Training absence explained

Alvarez missed training on Wednesday and Thursday after a bout of illness following a poor night's sleep on Tuesday. Atletico were at pains to clarify that his absence had nothing to do with any uncertainty over his future at the club.

Atletico have also formally reported Barcelona to the Spanish Football Association over their conduct in pursuing Alvarez, raising the dispute to an institutional level.