Speculation has been rife this week about a possible summer transfer to FC Barcelona for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez. Comments made by the Argentine forward have only added to the doubts, although the Madrid club are determined to keep him at Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Atleticós sporting director Mateu Alemany will be tasked with keeping Álvarez at the club and, according to reports on Saturday, he spoke out about the speculation surrounding the 26-year-old.
"As with Antoine Griezmann, he has a contract with us and he will be with us. Julián has made it clear that he is very happy at Atlético and everything he says is being interpreted in different ways. He has four more years on his contract and we hope that it will continue for longer, even for his contract to be extended. I don't see any news on Julián. There is no problem, it is just another case of people looking for something where there is nothing. I agree with what the coach said yesterday. The only news is his extraordinary performances."
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Apollo Sports Capital had become Atlético's new majority shareholder. However, according to Alemany, no major changes are expected to the club's structure.
"It is a very powerful investment fund that comes to give more strength to the project. But the important thing is that they propose to continue with the management that has been in charge so far. I do not foresee any changes in the short term."
Alemany was also asked about the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Tottenham Hotspur, where Atlético leads 5-2 after the first leg.
"How many times have we seen upsets in Europe? We also have the experience of FC Barcelona (in the Copa del Rey). In football you always have to suffer. Tottenham are a very high-level team, they finished fourth in the league stage."
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