Real Madrid Makes $175 Million Bid for Julian Alvarez; Atletico Madrid Rejects Offer
Real Madrid had a €150 million ($175M) offer for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez officially rejected, while Manchester City saw a second bid of up to £120 million for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson also turned down. Atletico pointed to Alvarez's €500 million release clause and responded with mockery on social media, while Forest is holding out for a guaranteed British record fee above £125 million. Both rejections highlight an increasingly inflated summer transfer market ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, freshly re-elected, fulfilled a campaign pledge by submitting an official €150 million bid for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, only to be rebuffed immediately, with Atletico citing the Argentine's €500 million release clause — more than double the all-time world transfer record set by Neymar's 2017 move to PSG. Atletico's social media response included laughing emojis and a pointed jab at Real Madrid over alleged academy player poaching, turning the rejection into a public spectacle. Reports also indicate Barcelona had previously agreed personal terms with Alvarez on a five-year deal, though their €100 million offer was considered insufficient. Separately, Manchester City have seen two bids for Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected, with the latest offer of £106 million guaranteed plus add-ons reaching £120 million still falling short of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis's demand for a guaranteed fee surpassing Liverpool's £125 million record payment for Alexander Isak. Anderson, 23, is currently on World Cup duty with England and impressed in a 3-0 warm-up win over Costa Rica, with manager Thomas Tuchel praising him as 'the full package' and expressing confidence the transfer speculation has not distracted him. Manchester City are reportedly considering walking away if Forest do not lower their demands, though Anderson's preference is understood to be a move to the Etihad Stadium.
What's missing
It is unclear whether Real Madrid's bid for Alvarez was ever seriously intended to succeed given the vast gap between the offer and the release clause, or whether it was primarily a political gesture by Perez. Additionally, the current state of Barcelona's pursuit of Alvarez — including whether their offer has been formally submitted to Atletico — is not fully clarified across the sources.
How coverage differed
The Mirror framed the Man City–Anderson story with an 'exclusive' angle emphasizing City's potential willingness to walk away, adding tension and urgency, while BBC and The Guardian presented the same facts more straightforwardly as an ongoing negotiation. On the Alvarez story, Forbes gave more weight to the Barcelona angle and Perez's political motivations, while BBC focused more on Atletico's colorful social media response.
What different sources said
- ForbesCenter
Real Madrid Confirms $175 Million Julian Alvarez And Receives Reponse
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Man City second offer for Anderson worth £120m rejected
- BBCCenter
Elliot Anderson: Manchester City have second bid rejected for Nottingham Forest midfielder
- The MirrorCenter
Man City could WALK AWAY from Elliot Anderson transfer after Nottingham Forest reject bid
- Times of IndiaCenter
Atletico mock Real Madrid after rejecting Alvarez's €150 million bid
Elliot Anderson on the rise as face of England amid Manchester City transfer talk
- Goal.comCenter
Thomas Tuchel urges England World Cup star Elliot Anderson to 'stays humble' amid links with British record transfer to Man City
- talkSPORTCenter
Man City close to British record transfer for Elliot Anderson after £121m bid rejected
- Liverpool.comCenter
Man City's $161M Elliot Anderson bid could impact 3 Liverpool transfers
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