Real Madrid have officially announced that they made a 150 million euros bid for Atletico Madrid's star forward Julian Alvarez, but the offer was rejected by their city rivals. The announcement came on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, following a Board of Directors meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Official Statement from Real Madrid
In an official statement, Real Madrid confirmed the submission of the EUR150 million offer to Atletico Madrid for the federative rights of the Argentine international. However, Atletico Madrid, after reviewing the proposal, thanked the club but rejected the offer, pointing instead to the player's release clause as the basis for its decision.
"Real Madrid CF announces that, following today's Board of Directors meeting, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez," read the statement. "After studying and evaluating it, Atletico de Madrid has thanked the club for the offer, made within the framework of the good relations existing between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player's release clause."
Context of the Bid
The bid comes just a day after Florentino Perez secured a fourth consecutive term as Real Madrid president, winning the club's first contested presidential election in two decades. During his campaign, Perez had hinted at plans to spend EUR150 million on an unnamed player, promising to unveil the signing on Tuesday. This amount would have set a new club record transfer fee, according to Reuters.
Julian Alvarez, 26, has been a key figure for Atletico Madrid, scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists in 49 appearances across all competitions during the 2025/26 season. His performances have attracted interest from several top European clubs, but Atletico have remained firm on their valuation, insisting on the release clause being met.
Reaction and Implications
The rejection underscores the fierce rivalry between the two Madrid clubs, despite the statement acknowledging "good relations." Real Madrid's pursuit of Alvarez signals their intent to bolster their attack, while Atletico's stance highlights their determination to retain their star player unless his release clause is triggered. The exact amount of the release clause has not been disclosed, but it is believed to be significantly higher than the EUR150 million offered.
This development adds another chapter to the storied transfer battles between the two clubs, with fans on both sides eagerly awaiting the next move. Real Madrid may now consider alternative targets or increase their offer to meet the release clause, while Atletico will hope to keep Alvarez as a cornerstone of their project.
