Real Madrid's $173 Million Bid for Julian Alvarez Turned Down by Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid's pursuit of striker Julian Alvarez has hit a snag, as their €150 million ($173 million) offer was declined by city rivals Atletico Madrid. The 26-year-old Argentine forward has made a notable impact at Atletico since his transfer from Manchester City in 2024, netting 49 goals in 106 appearances.

Alvarez, whose contract extends until 2030, is reportedly eager to depart from Diego Simeone's squad this summer, with clubs like Arsenal and Barcelona expressing interest. Prior to his re-election as president, Florentino Perez indicated his intentions to present a club-record bid for an undisclosed "great player" this week.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, Real Madrid confirmed, "Real Madrid CF announces that, following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez." However, Atletico Madrid expressed their appreciation for the offer while firmly rejecting it, citing the player’s release clause.

As Alvarez prepares to defend Argentina's title in the upcoming World Cup, he also enjoyed a successful season at Atletico, scoring 20 goals in 49 matches, including 10 in the Champions League. Atletico Madrid later stated they were "neither considering nor evaluating any offers" for Alvarez. Their social media response included a playful jab, stating, "You may have mistaken politeness for gratitude, but just to be clear: we are not thanking you for anything." They humorously added, "How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than @FCBarcelona?"