Atletico Madrid have fired back at Barcelona, insisting there is a "0% chance" of Julian Alvarez leaving for the Catalan club, after Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly reiterated his side's interest in the Argentine forward.

The row erupted following a video published by Laporta on Wednesday, in which he confirmed that Barcelona's reported €100m (£85.7m) offer for Alvarez remained on the table. Atletico responded with a sharp statement that went far beyond the numbers.

"This is not about money, it's about dignity. The player is being victimised, but the only victim in the Julian case is us. They have harmed us economically and socially. There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca. There is a campaign of many lies and half-truths. The only one paying for this is Atletico."

A difficult weekend for Alvarez

The saga took a painful turn on Sunday when Alvarez was jeered by Atletico supporters during their draw with Villarreal. He started on the bench and was met with boos even as he warmed up. When he came on in the 66th minute, the hostility grew louder.

At full-time, rather than joining his teammates in applauding the fans, Alvarez walked straight down the tunnel — a move that Atleti manager Diego Simeone later suggested had been agreed upon in advance by the club.

By Wednesday, Alvarez had missed a training session. Atletico said he was unwell.

Arsenal watching from a distance

Arsenal have also been monitoring Alvarez and are said to view him as their dream transfer target this summer. However, sources close to the situation indicate that Alvarez himself still wants to remain in Spain, leaving Arsenal's prospects looking slim as the 1 September transfer deadline approaches.

For now, the Gunners are watching the standoff between the two Spanish clubs unfold, growing increasingly realistic about their chances of securing a deal in time.

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick, speaking ahead of their match against Athletic Club on Thursday, declined to address the Alvarez situation directly, saying only: "I want to speak about the situation of the club."

How the saga began

The transfer drama around Alvarez, who joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in 2024, has been building for months. Barcelona first made contact in May, but Atletico dismissed the approach and mocked Barca's pursuit in a series of widely shared social media posts, accusing them of running a "smear campaign."

In June, city rivals Real Madrid entered the picture. Los Blancos tabled a €150m (£130m) bid — linked to president Florentino Perez's promise to sign a high-profile "Galactico" if re-elected — but that offer was also turned down by Atletico. Alvarez's release clause stands at €500m (£430m).

The Argentina international then broke his own silence after his country's win over Austria in June, telling reporters that "the best thing for everyone is a transfer" and adding: "I want to fulfil my dream." His words made clear that, despite Atletico's firm stance, the 26-year-old was open to moving on.

Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin went on record saying the club would not sell Alvarez "even for 200m euros (£170.8m)." With deadline day looming and the war of words intensifying, the Argentine World Cup winner's future remains one of the summer window's most gripping storylines.