Julian Alvarez has returned to individual training at Atlético Madrid amid a tense standoff over a potential transfer. While the striker desires a move to Barcelona, Atlético has flatly refused to negotiate with the Catalan club, leaving Arsenal as the forward’s most viable exit route before the September 1 deadline.
Atlético Madrid Slams the Door on Barcelona
The relationship between Julián Álvarez and Atlético Madrid has deteriorated significantly as the summer transfer window enters its final days. Club executives have made their position clear regarding any potential sale to their La Liga rivals, establishing an uncompromising stance, with sources inside Atlético Madrid reporting that the chance of selling him to Barcelona equals zero
. Spanish newspaper “Marca” report this stance, while the club’s board issued a statement backing the decision not to sell to the Catalans, and tension between the two sides has been rising ever since.
Joan Laporta had insisted Barcelona would keep trying to sign Álvarez until the deadline, only for Atlético to dig in further. The 26-year-old Argentina international has been at the centre of one of the summer’s longest-running transfer sagas, with Arsenal and Barcelona both showing strong interest. Sources told BBC Sport that Atletico communicated privately to Alvarez and his advisers earlier this week that they will not negotiate with the Catalan club over a move for the Argentina international. The La Liga club also released two public statements in the space of 24 hours reiterating their stance that Alvarez will not be granted his wish to join Barca in the coming days. The Argentine striker wants to leave Diego Simeone’s side to join Barcelona, seeing Barca as the only logical step for his career, though there remain doubts over whether the Catalan club can fund the move.
There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca.
Training Ground Absence and Supporter Hostility
The tension spilled over onto the pitch during a recent 2-2 home draw against Villarreal, which marked Alvarez’s first Atletico Madrid match after revealing his desire to leave the club during the World Cup. Álvarez endured a frosty reception from home supporters who booed him after all the transfer window noise around him. His future in the capital was already in doubt after the flashpoint against Villarreal, when Atlético supporters jeered their own star and the player then headed alone to the dressing room.
Julian Alvarez has not attended Atletico Madrid training since being told privately the club would not sell him to Barcelona. The striker has since missed two consecutive days of training citing illness, and subsequently missed training with his Atletico Madrid teammates for a third consecutive day, clinging to his hope of joining the Catalan club. According to MARCA, after missing training with his Atletico Madrid teammates for a third consecutive day, Alvarez did return to Cerro del Espino in the afternoon to work individually with a club fitness coach, putting an end to his period of “indisposition” while accepting that his dream of playing for Barcelona might now be effectively impossible and that the Premier League is the only alternative if he is to leave Atlético Madrid.
Arsenal Talks and Direct Rejection
With the Barcelona route shut, Atlético remain willing to sell Álvarez to a foreign club for 150 million euros, and Arsenal emerge as a realistic destination. Arsenal have received encouragement in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, with the Atletico Madrid forward reportedly becoming more open to a move to north London after talks with Mikel Arteta. Alvarez remains determined to leave Atletico before the deadline and is now softening his previous reluctance to return to the Premier League, which could give Arsenal a genuine opening. Arteta is understood to have spoken with Alvarez as Arsenal continue looking for another elite attacker after failing to convince Vinicius Junior to leave Real Madrid, and those conversations are believed to have helped change the striker’s view of a potential return to England, with the door to Arsenal now described as being ajar.
Alvarez is believed to be Mikel Arteta’s number one attacking target and despite his value being north of £100m, there is a feeling Arsenal could do a deal if all parties are willing. Atleti director Mateu Alemany was in London last week, where he is understood to have met with Arsenal counterparts and made clear his side would seek a fee of 150m euros (£128m). Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign Alvarez this month, and discussions between Atletico and Arsenal over a club-to-club agreement for Alvarez have been positive, with direct talks held with the Premier League champions over what would be one of the biggest transfers of the summer.
However, in a bombshell update, Spanish transfer insider and journalist Gerard Romero claimed that a deal had actually been agreed between Atletico and Arsenal last Thursday afternoon, only for Alvarez himself to reject the Gunners once club officials got in contact. Alvarez is waiting for a move from Barcelona, having actually rejected Arsenal directly.
Manchester City Enters the Picture
According to the report, Manchester City have entered the picture in recent hours alongside Arsenal as the most likely destination should he decide to depart. Two years ago, Alvarez left the Etihad for Atletico in search of the prominent role he had not been able to enjoy playing in Erling Haaland’s shadow, and his former club has now taken advantage of his complicated situation to explore the possibility of bringing him back. Following the departures of Omar Marmoush and Savinho, Man City’s attacking options have been reduced, and Alvarez’s name has emerged as a potential solution amid the turmoil surrounding his future at Atlético, initially with a loan move being considered, though Man City face the same obstacle.
What Lies Ahead Before the Deadline
With five days of the window left, the obstacles surrounding a deal now stretch well beyond football, and Arsenal keep tabs on his situation ahead of the September 1 deadline. Joan Laporta had insisted Barcelona would keep trying to sign Álvarez until the deadline, but with the Catalan club unable to fund the move and Atlético slamming the door, the forward’s options are narrowing as the window draws to a close.
