Julian Alvarez Transfer Saga: Atletico Madrid Shuts Door on Barcelona
Julian Alvarez has effectively drawn a line in the sand at Atletico Madrid – and it is starting to look like the only escape route runs through north London, not Barcelona.
The Argentina forward has not reported for training for two straight days after being told privately that Atletico will not sell him to Barca, with illness given as the official reason for his absence. Behind the scenes, the message has been far blunter.
Club sources have told BBC Sport that Atletico informed Alvarez and his camp earlier this week that they will not enter talks with the Catalan side over any deal for the 26-year-old. That stance has been hammered home both in private and, pointedly, in public.
Atletico issued two statements in 24 hours to shut the door on Barcelona.
On Wednesday, responding to Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s insistence that they still want Alvarez, Atleti fired back: “There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca.”
The board went even harder on Thursday, releasing a collective declaration: “The members of Atletico de Madrid's board of directors have unanimously expressed their absolute support for the club's decision to not negotiate the transfer of Julian Alvarez to FC Barcelona.”
Barca, for now, are out. Arsenal are very much in.
Atletico are open to selling Alvarez to the Premier League champions and have already held direct talks over what would be one of the defining transfers of the window. Atleti director Mateu Alemany travelled to London last week and met Arsenal officials, making it clear the Spanish club want 150m euros (£128m).
That figure underlines how serious Atletico are about only letting him go on their terms. It also underlines how serious Arsenal would have to be to get it done.
Mikel Arteta is pushing hard. He wants Alvarez this month. But the player’s determination to join Barcelona has stalled Arsenal’s move, leaving the deal caught between Atletico’s hard line and Alvarez’s preferred destination.
Even so, conversations between Atletico and Arsenal over a club-to-club agreement are described as positive. The framework is there. The numbers are on the table.
Now the decision sits with Alvarez.
If he gives Arsenal the green light in the coming days, those involved believe the transfer could accelerate quickly. Atletico are ready. Arsenal are ready. Barcelona have been locked out.
The only question left is whether Alvarez is willing to walk through the door that actually leads out.
