CORNERFLICK
Atletico Madrid are reportedly willing to sell Julian Alvarez, but not to Barcelona, with the club said to have drawn a clear line over their Spanish rivals.
Atletico's stance
According to Spanish reporter Jose Alvarez, Atletico would accept the Argentina forward's exit if a suitable bid arrives from any club other than Barcelona. The stance underlines how strongly the Madrid side want to avoid strengthening a direct domestic rival.
Barcelona have tracked Alvarez for months and have been linked with moves to close the gap to both the player and Atletico. Recent reports have also said Alvarez and those close to him still want a switch to the Camp Nou.
Why the deal is stuck
That leaves the move dependent on Atletico's position rather than just the price. Earlier reports had already suggested the club would rather keep Alvarez than sell him straight to Barcelona.
For now, the message from Atletico appears unchanged: negotiations may be possible elsewhere, but Barcelona remain the exception.