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The fierce rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid has taken a dramatic turn off the pitch after Atletico publicly rejected a €150 million bid for Argentine striker Julian Alvarez and responded with a series of laughing emojis on social media.
The offer was reportedly made directly by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez shortly after securing another term in charge of the club. Perez had previously promised to pursue a major signing, and Alvarez emerged as his first target following his re-election.
In an official statement, Real Madrid confirmed that the club had submitted an offer of €150 million to Atletico Madrid for the transfer rights of the 26-year-old forward.
However, Atletico made it clear that they had no intention of negotiating, pointing instead to Alvarez’s massive €500 million release clause. The club initially responded to Real Madrid’s announcement with laughing emojis before releasing a stronger statement mocking their city rivals.
Atletico stated that Real Madrid had mistaken courtesy for gratitude and insisted they had no plans to discuss any offer for the player. The club even joked that Real’s approach made them laugh more than their rivalry with Barcelona.
The Madrid-based club also took a swipe at Real over previous disputes involving youth academy talents, adding another chapter to the long-standing tension between Spain’s two biggest football rivals.
Julian Alvarez remains one of the most highly-rated forwards in world football. The Argentina international, who was part of the team that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in a deal worth around £81.5 million in 2024.
Since arriving in Spain, Alvarez has established himself as a key figure in Diego Simeone’s squad. In his debut season, he scored 20 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, helping Atletico compete strongly in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
His impressive performances have increased his market value and attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid.
Despite Real’s willingness to spend €150 million, Atletico’s €500 million release clause gives them complete control over the player’s future. Unless the Spanish giants decide to make a significantly higher offer or Alvarez personally pushes for a transfer, a move across Madrid appears highly unlikely.
For now, Atletico Madrid have sent a strong message to their rivals: Julian Alvarez is not available, regardless of the size of the offer. The transfer saga has once again highlighted that the rivalry between the two clubs extends far beyond matchday battles and remains one of the most intense in world football.
