Asked directly how Álvarez was coping with the saga, chief exec Miguel Angel Gil Marin described a player he believes has been misled by those around him.
"Really badly. There have been people responsible for deceiving and confusing him, and I regret it enormously. I know him, we've been working with him for a while, he's a great person, a great person who is totally confused, going through a difficult moment personally and professionally," Gil Marin said.
He was equally direct when asked about Barcelona's public comments on the situation.
"It angers us even more because we're disgusted by the dishonesty, the lack of ethics, transparency and professionalism, and we can only insist that we are not going to negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances.
"I am the person ultimately responsible as chief executive. I have the support of the people who work with me, of the shareholders and directors, and the only firm, certain decision is that we will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances. What I have is my word — I've been in football for more than 30 years, and with me as chief executive, he will not be transferred to Barcelona, with total certainty, that is the reality," he said.
Pressed on whether Atletico Madrid would consider any other destination for the forward, Gil Marin left the door open only slightly.
"Our intention and my personal dream is that he stays with us, serving Atlético. To compete among the big clubs you need big players, and Julián is one. If he were to conclude that staying in Madrid with Atlético is incompatible, we would look for an alternative — but it would never, ever be Barcelona," he said, repeating when pushed that the stance "will not change" and that he was speaking "with total certainty."
The comments came on the same day club president Enrique Cerezo addressed Atlético's Champions League group-stage draw, which pairs the club with Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt and other opponents on the way to a possible route back to a final staged at their own Metropolitano stadium.
"Draws are what they are, you have to accept it and try to get through to the last 16 in good shape. We have several very good opponents, we don't know Viking, and with the others we've played before so we'll have to work at it. You need luck and to get through," Cerezo said, before addressing individual opponents.
"Bayern are old acquaintances, we've faced them many times and it's always gone well for us — we'll see if that continues."
On the prospect of the final being staged at Atlético's own stadium, Cerezo added: "It's exciting and we want to be there, it's our home and it wouldn't cost us anything to get there, we're right next door."