Julian Alvarez’s representatives have once again told Atletico Madrid that the striker wants to leave this summer, with Arsenal prepared to make an aggressive move for the Argentina forward as the race for one of Europe’s most prized attackers intensifies.
That renewed message comes after Alvarez and people close to him made clear internally in January that they were already weighing a move away from Atletico. Since then, dissatisfaction has remained behind the scenes, and his camp have now reiterated their intention to pursue a transfer during the current window.
The development leaves Atletico increasingly aware they may face a difficult battle to keep hold of the 26-year-old World Cup winner. The club had hoped to persuade him to commit his long-term future to the side with an improved contract offer, but the latest contact suggests those talks have not changed the mood around the player. TEAMtalk understands that Alvarez’s representatives have once again informed Atletico Madrid of the striker’s desire to leave the club this summer.
The size of any deal is part of the problem. A move for Alvarez is expected to exceed £100 million, with one figure attached to the negotiation put at £108m, and that kind of fee narrows the list of realistic buyers. Barcelona have remained his preferred destination throughout, but they would currently struggle to put together a package that matches Atletico’s demands outright. Even so, they have not ruled themselves out of the race and could offer players as part of a wider agreement.
That is where the contest tightens. Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have emerged as the strongest immediate challengers to Barcelona, and both are prepared to meet Atletico’s financial expectations. Both clubs are also actively exploring player-plus-cash proposals, a structure that could suit Atletico if they decide to move on from a prolonged effort to keep Alvarez in Madrid. Barcelona, for their part, still believe their long-standing relationship with his camp and the player’s clear desire to join them could yet become decisive later in the window.
PSG see Alvarez as one of the elite-level forwards capable of becoming the focal point of their evolving sporting project, while Arsenal continue searching for a world-class attacker to lift Mikel Arteta’s frontline. The Gunners’ interest is not new; a separate report on Paul Merson’s call for Arsenal to sign Alvarez and question Arteta’s attacking plans has already added fuel to that debate, while links with Barcelona have been tracked closely since Atletico brace for renewed summer exit push.
Teamtalk understands that both PSG and Arsenal have received encouragement that Alvarez is open to their projects if Barcelona ultimately fail to make a viable move. That leaves Atletico trying to hold the line against three clubs with money, ambition and a player who now appears to have made his position clear twice in the span of a few months.
The next step is likely to be as much about structure as it is about desire. Barcelona remain the preferred landing spot, but unless they find a way to bridge the gap on cost, Arsenal and PSG may be the ones best placed to turn Alvarez’s latest push for a summer exit into a bid Atletico cannot ignore.
