Madrid have no intention of letting their prized striker leave on the cheap, especially to a direct domestic rival like Barcelona.
The club have reportedly informed the player's representative, Fernando Hidalgo, that they will only entertain offers in excess of €150m. Given Barcelona’s well-documented financial struggles, matching such a valuation remains a significant hurdle for the Catalan giants.
There is also a sense of frustration within the Atletico hierarchy regarding the influence of the player's entourage.
Sources suggest that Hidalgo has been "meddling" behind the scenes to engineer a move, a situation reminiscent of the complications that nearly derailed his initial transfer from Manchester City. While some at the club believe they should hold firm, others, including sporting director Mateu Alemany, might see a massive sale as an opportunity to rebuild the squad.