MADRID, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid will file a formal complaint with FIFA after striker Julian Alvarez said he wants to leave the club, with the Madrid side accusing Barcelona of illegally negotiating with the Argentina international.
Alvarez said after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria in the World Cup on Monday that leaving Atletico would be "the best thing for everyone," prompting concerns within the club that he had already held talks with Barcelona.
Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil told reporters that if Barcelona had negotiated with Alvarez while he remained under contract, it would constitute a breach of FIFA regulations because the player is in a protected period of his contract, which runs until June 2030.
"Our responsibility is to defend the interests of Atletico de Madrid, and that is why we are going to file a complaint with FIFA against Barcelona for negotiating with a player under contract during the protected period," Gil said.
"Julian has a dream, and we Atletico fans also have dreams. It's true that he has spoken with us, but it's also true that he is perfectly aware of our position because we have been very clear: Atletico does not want to transfer his rights."
"He is a great player, and we are very proud that he plays for us."
Gil also accused Barcelona of employing similar tactics last year in its unsuccessful attempt to sign Spain international Nico Williams from Athletic Club.
"Barcelona is disrespecting us," Gil said.
"They think they can belittle us, that we are weak or stupid. But what they are really showing the world is a way of acting that defines them."
"They lie to us, to the player, to the media, and they also lie to their own fans. They try to make everyone believe that they can aspire to carry out a transfer for which they are not actually qualified. It is not the first time that Barcelona has acted this way, and the football world is perfectly aware of it."
Atletico recently rejected a 150 million euro (174 million U.S. dollar) offer for Alvarez from Real Madrid and has repeatedly stressed that the 26-year-old's release clause is set at 500 million euros (580 million U.S. dollars). ■
