Atletico Madrid has firmly dismissed speculation regarding the departure of forward Julian Alvarez. Despite ongoing rumors linking the 26-year-old to a move to Barcelona, manager Diego Simeone confirmed that the player remains a central part of the club’s plans and is not for sale.

The situation has been complicated by a formal dispute between the two Spanish clubs. Last month, Atletico Madrid took the step of filing an official complaint with FIFA, the world governing body for football. In the complaint, Atletico alleges that Barcelona engaged in "tapping up"—the practice of contacting a player under contract with another club without obtaining prior permission from their current employer.

While Simeone’s comments serve to clarify the club's stance on Alvarez’s immediate future, the underlying tension between Atletico and Barcelona remains unresolved. FIFA has not yet issued a public ruling on the validity of the complaint, and Barcelona has not publicly responded to the specific allegations regarding their recruitment conduct. The situation highlights the ongoing friction between top-tier clubs regarding player acquisition protocols and the enforcement of transfer regulations.