Journalist José Álvarez said on El Chiringuito that he had received a "very clear" message from within the Argentina international's camp on Thursday morning, relaying that the striker "doesn't want to play there anymore" and that his entourage believe his situation at the Metropolitano "will become unsustainable" between now and the turn of the year.
According to that account, the pressure could eventually force Atlético into a position where they call Barcelona themselves and ask whether the Catalan club still want him.
José Álvarez said the weekly jeers Julián Álvarez has received from sections of the Atlético support, along with the emotional toll of the situation, could leave the player unwilling to continue at the club.
That, he suggested, might push Atletico Madrid to sanction a sale in order to fund their own recruitment plans in the winter window. The journalist also referenced the emergence of what he called "new figures" with connections to both clubs who could play a role in how any deal develops, claiming both Barcelona and Atlético are aware of the scenario being discussed.
Central to the report is Barcelona's financial position: José Álvarez said the club has around €60m of Financial Fair Play margin available, which he believes would be enough to complete a January move should the opportunity arise.
Barcelona made a first offer for Álvarez worth more than €100m earlier in the summer, which Atlético rejected, with club president Miguel Ángel Gil subsequently telling reporters the speculation around the striker's future was over and that Atlético would not let their transfer strategy be dictated by other clubs or the media.
Álvarez himself has played down the ongoing speculation in recent public comments, saying people will "always talk" regardless of how he responds and insisting the rumours do not affect him.
The 25-year-old has continued to feature regularly for Diego Simeone's side since the window closed, scoring and assisting in Atlético's Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt this week, and the club's official position remains that any suggestion of a departure — in January or otherwise — is not something they are entertaining.