Hi Nadia,
He keeps pursuing you after making it clear that he doesn’t want to date because he wants your attention.
His interest in you only renewed after you started ignoring him not so long after he told a mutual friend that he just wants to be friends with you and nothing more.
He misses the attention that he used to get from you.
If you were to give in and start communicating with him again, he will most likely enjoy the attention for a little while until the effect wears off.
At that point, he may start talking to some other girl. He has done this in the past.
Thereby, the cycle of this kind of behavior would just continue.
Unless he comes right out and asks you out on a proper date, it may be best to keep ignoring him.