Julián Alvarez axes agent Fernando Hidalgo after failed Barcelona move
Atlético Madrid star Julián Alvarez has this week taken definitive action in response to his failed summer transfer to Barcelona — cutting ties with his agent, Fernando Hidalgo.
Spanish champions Barcelona spent the bulk of the summer transfer window in active pursuit of the Argentina international. Amid a search for reinforcements up top following the respective departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, the Blaugrana identified Alvarez as the ideal addition to their attack.
Atlético Madrid faced Liverpool in the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League.
Their efforts to land the 26-year-old, however, ultimately came to nothing. Despite a public plea on the part of the player himself to be allowed to move on, the Metropolitano brass were unwavering in their stance that Alvarez would not be sold, and the forward was left with no option but to stay put in the Spanish capital.
Alvarez dispenses with Hidalgo's services
And the 26-year-old is evidently yet to fully get over his disappointment with the outcome of the saga. As per a report from Atlético Madrid insider Rubén Uría, relayed by Get Spanish Football News, the striker has now ended his professional relationship with Hidalgo:
"The Atlético de Madrid forward ends his professional relationship with agent Fernando Hidalgo. Julián felt disappointed with the way his future was managed this summer. He dispenses with Hidalgo's services and will soon have a new agent."
The decision underlines just how bitterly the collapse of the move continues to rank with a player who had made no secret of his desire to join Barcelona, and who now feels his future was not managed as it should have been over the summer months. He is expected to appoint a new representative in the near future.
Deco closes the book on the chase
Barcelona, for their part, have long since moved on. Back on 10 September, sporting director Deco defended the club's conduct in the affair, insisting that the Catalans had made a "formal and correct" offer to Atlético and "did things well" despite the Argentina striker remaining in Madrid.
By 25 September, Deco had officially closed the book on the pursuit, confirming that the club had turned the page after Atlético's refusal to sell. In Alvarez's absence, Raphinha has thrived in the No. 9 role, while Gabriel Jesus has been contributing from the bench.
The void up front opened up by Robert Lewandowski's exit has, in the meantime, seen the veteran striker resurface in MLS with Chicago Fire, where he has registered 6 goals and 3 assists across 12 appearances in the 2026 season, according to FotMob data.
Alvarez, meanwhile, must now content himself with life at the Metropolitano under a new agent — with Atlético having made it abundantly clear throughout the saga that their star man is not for sale.