Simeone issues blunt verdict on Barca's Álvarez pursuit

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has delivered another unequivocal message to Barcelona regarding the club's star forward Julián Álvarez — and it is one that leaves little room for interpretation.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, as cited by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Simeone effectively slammed the door on any hopes the Catalan giants may still harbour of prising the Argentine away from the Metropolitano.

“If the club owner has expressed himself so firmly, there's not much more to add. It's like in court: there's no longer any room for doubt.”

A chase that has run all summer

It is Spanish football's worst-kept secret that the Camp Nou hierarchy have set their sights on the 26-year-old frontman with a view to next season. Amid an ongoing search for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, Álvarez has been identified as the ideal fit for Hansi Flick's setup.

Efforts to make the transfer a reality have been ongoing for several months now, but Barcelona's push has been met time and time again with complete resistance from the Atlético boardroom. Simeone's latest comments suggest that stance will not soften over the weeks ahead.

One last push — or time to move on?

Despite the consistent rejection, the Catalan giants are being tipped to make one last attempt before turning to an alternative before the transfer window closes. Sporting director Deco is believed to have other options up his sleeve in the bid to land a striker, and Barça are said to have set a deadline of the end of this week in their efforts to land Álvarez.

The question now hanging over the Camp Nou boardroom is whether Barcelona are wasting their time with Álvarez and should instead focus on other targets, particularly as time rapidly runs out in the transfer window — or whether Atlético will eventually cave under the pressure of a final offer.

With Simeone insisting the club's position is final, the decision may be made for them: give up on the Argentine and move on, or keep pushing against a wall that shows no signs of giving way.