Face-to-face at peak tension! Barcelona and Atlético chiefs set for awkward Monaco meeting
Monaco is about to become the most uncomfortable room in Spanish football.
Details: According to SPORT, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are expected to cross paths at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco during Thursday's 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw. Atlético will be represented by president Enrique Cerezo and CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, while Barcelona are sending only sporting vice-president Rafa Yuste.
The encounter comes at the most heated point of the Julián Álvarez saga. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reiterated that the Catalans' offer for the Argentine remains on the table if Atlético decide to sell, with the proposal reported at €100 million.
Atlético's response could hardly have been stronger. The Madrid club insist there is a 0% chance of selling Álvarez directly to Barcelona and have described the dispute as a matter of dignity rather than money. Gil Marín was also the executive with whom Laporta personally discussed Barcelona's offer, making the presence of both delegations in Monaco especially notable.
For now, there is no confirmed formal negotiation session between the clubs in Monaco, but Cerezo, Gil Marín and Yuste are expected to be under the same roof during the draw. It is worth noting that Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético until June 2030, while Transfermarkt currently estimates his market value at €100 million.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
