Diego Simeone insists Julian Alvarez will not leave Atletico Madrid amid Barcelona links

[p]Last month, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] filed a complaint to FIFA over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] allegedly tapping up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Alvarez[/a].[/p][p]The Argentina international has also been linked with a possible move to Premier League champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] and was the subject of a rejected 150-million-euro ($173.4m) bid from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] in June.[/p][p]"[b]I think the situation is very clear. The club has made a decision that (CEO) Miguel Angel (Gil Marin) has explained very well[/b]," [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simeone-diego/AZ18LjKN/"]Simeone[/a] told reporters ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=8pPBbXgB"]a pre-season friendly[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] in Seoul.[/p][p]"[b]From a sporting perspective, we're very happy to have a footballer like Julian...[/b][/p][p]"[b]We will help him continue to grow, continue to improve and continue delivering the best -- which has been a tremendous amount -- that he has given us over the last two years[/b]."[/p][image alt="Alvarez has been heavily linked with Barcelona" id="858f3c02-c0d2-4ca1-bebd-20d3e98674d4" credit-line="ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / PACO LARGO" guid="5ffdf726-0866-4ab1-94e0-9dc943818f2c" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Alvarez is due to rejoin the Atletico squad in two days' time after taking a break following Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain.[/p][p]While on World Cup duty, the 26-year-old said he "believed a transfer is best for everyone", but did not confirm his preferred destination.[/p][p]Alvarez has scored 49 goals for Atletico since signing from Manchester City two years ago.[/p][p]"[b]We don't want to transfer him. We didn't accept the 100-million-euro offer, nor will we accept one for 150 million or 200 million[/b]," Gil Marin told the club's in-house media channel.[/p][p]"[b]I have no doubt that Atletico is the right place for Julian and that Julian is the centre-forward for Atletico Madrid. We want to keep him[/b]."[/p][p]When asked about how Alvarez might be received by Atletico fans following the transfer speculation, Simeone pointed to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griezmann-antoine/OxCa1jdT/"]Antoine Griezmann[/a].[/p][p]The Frenchman made a big-money move to Barcelona before returning to Atletico.[/p][image alt="Alvarez league career stats" id="751d101a-ab9a-49c3-a805-8af2c2ea7648" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="708d87ca-063d-44f6-9ef3-3deeb6cbfb95" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]He was initially met with some hostility, but won the supporters back over and departed last season a club legend.[/p][p]"[b]We went through a period with Antoine in recent years where he had to leave, come back, and prove his quality and stature on the pitch[/b]," said Simeone.[/p][p]"[b]I see no other path than focusing on the sporting side of things, doing our part and helping him (Alvarez), just as we have done over the last few years[/b]."[/p][p]Atletico get their La Liga campaign underway on August 19 with a home match against newly-promoted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malaga/25tIqYiJ/"]Malaga[/a].[/p][p]The capital club finished fourth last season, 25 points adrift of champions Barcelona.[/p]