Atletico Madrid CEO Gil Marin has opened the door for Arsenal to sign Julian Alvarez before this transfer window closes, as he insists they will not sell him to Barcelona.
The Catalans are the club Alvarez wants to join, and he considers that move a dream for him, but Atletico have sworn not to do business with their rivals following their conduct in the pursuit of his signature. Alvarez has been one of the top strikers in the world for several seasons, and the attacker is one of the players Arsenal believe can take their team to the next level.
Arsenal wait for Alvarez’s decision
He has played in the Premier League before and won multiple trophies at Manchester City before moving to Spain, so he could do well if he returns. Arsenal have been ready to send an offer for his signature for several weeks, but the attacker is yet to open the door for the move to happen, as he only wants to move to Barcelona.
Marin has now broken his silence and says Atletico will sell Alvarez if he wants to leave, but not to Barcelona. This could provide Arsenal with an opportunity if the striker changes his mind and becomes open to moving to another club.
The Gunners have remained interested in the forward, and Atletico’s refusal to negotiate with Barcelona means a foreign club could become his alternative destination. Arsenal could therefore have a chance to make their interest count if Alvarez decides he wants to leave Madrid.
Marin refuses Barcelona negotiations
As quoted by the Daily Mail, Marin explained that Atletico’s intention is still for Alvarez to remain at the club, but made their position on Barcelona clear.
‘Our intention is for Julián to stay with us so we can compete with the biggest clubs. If he comes to the conclusion that he doesn’t want to continue in Madrid, we’ll look for a solution. But never with FC Barcelona.
‘Julián is in poor health. There are people who have taken it upon themselves to deceive and confuse him, and he is going through a difficult situation. We are outraged and disgusted by the lack of ethics. We are not going to negotiate with Barcelona. The only firm decision is that we will NOT negotiate.’
Marin’s comments leave the door open for Alvarez to leave, while firmly closing it on Barcelona. Arsenal will hope that stance can work in their favour as they continue to monitor the striker’s situation.
If Alvarez decides to leave Atletico and becomes willing to consider a move to England, Arsenal could have a genuine opportunity to complete the signing before the transfer window closes.
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Hmm, this Alvarez thing, eh, is becoming something else. If I were arsenal, I will drop from chasing him. A player that only wants to go another club, how sure are he will be committed wholeheartedly?
I still find it hard to believe that Arsenal may well be willing to pay £130M for a player who would only be joining because we’re his last option this late in the window.
If we sign him, don’t be surprised if with-in a year he starts the Barcelona antics on us. And become an irritant in the dressing room.
But hey, Arsenal could do what they always do with stroppy players. Rip up their contract and we get nothing. Our club in particular has a talent for doing that don’t they.
RED FLAGS EVERYWHERE!!!!! Stay well away, it would be a poor buy. Its going to give us problems for the future. I am sure we are not STUPID enough to be still waiting for Alvarez to choose us because he has no other option. We have to be bigger than that.
Today is D day for the Argentinan to make up his mind, if I was a betting man, I would bet the day will passed just as the deadline day for Enzo Fernández , set by the Blues
This would be a bad signing if we opted for it. Made we fancy these bad signings.
Are we not already shipping out to France some anonymous goalkeeper we only signed weeks ago?
**”May be” we fancy
I disagree with you all, I think “Hunior” – as the Spanish Journo’s call him – will be a great signing for Arsenal, will transform our cutting edge up front.
I totally agree with the UK media slant on this “Barca or Arsenal”. Sky Sports News have been feeding us rubbish on this – as there’s no way his entourage talks exclusively to us and not PSG and Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea too.
I fear Alvarez going to one of our Prem Rivals. There’s Zero chance Man City go into this season without world class option for when they don’t play Haaland.
I totally DISAGREE with the UK media slant on this it’s either “Barca or Arsenal”. phone re wrote what I was saying. 😠
He doesn’t want City, PSG, Liverpool or Arsenal. He wants Barcelona, the reason he has gone AWOL, is because he wants Barca, not any other club. He would be an awful buy under the present circumstances. In any case, many Spanish journalist are saying, he ONLY wants Barca, he isn’t interested in any other club. 🤞they are right. He hasn’t gone AWOL, to get a move to Arsenal?
Alvarez is a great player. He would be amazing for us.
He can play either in place of Odegaard or Havertz in our system. Slightly different when taking Ode spot, he would be SS not AM.
It would bring huge difference to our cutting edge.
He doesn’t want Arsenal? He doesn’t want AMadrid, look how thats turned out?
And his problem with Visas and his family still hasn’t changed. We do not want a player with so much baggage and not happy. He will not be 100% focussed. Thats why he left City. He doesn’t want Arsenal. He has burned his bridges at AM, I do not get what people think he is going to bring in reality, except, the same issues he had at City and the same issue he has now.
He’ll bring the same brilliance and superstarrness he gave Man City and Atleti. The stats from him amazing, the stats how he brings best out of those around him amazing. Only the 3 years+ with us is him at the very peak of his powers.
That’s what he’ll actually bring to Arsenal.
Gyokores had better stats last season. And Alvarez at Man City was not particularly fantastic. Alvarez today doesn’t want the prem, his heart is in Barcelona. I doubt he can be fully committed when, it wouldn’t be what he wants. It would be a MASSIVE financial risk and not worth it. Anyway I do not see him choosing something he doesn’t want.
Utter madness is an apt description of certain deals being done during this transfer window, with Notts Forrest paying over 50m for Delap being a prime example of panic buying.Thankfully, with the depth of our current squad, we do not have to book into the hotel “panic” and while Alvarez is a cut above Delap ,and is better than our current central strikers, he is not worth 130m.In the midst of the madness, there has been some astute buys including the impressive Tzolis and Garcia of Fulham who reminds me of Alvarez when he played for Man City.In essence, there are.players out there who represent far better value for money than the likes of Alvarez who has a lot of attributes, but has never struck me as a game changer.
Waste of money Grandad, I don’t see what the fuss is about.
Grandad,
I make you right about regards there being astute buys to be had. So far Tzolis looks to be one, but it seems to me that clubs just except these stupid prices that are put on said player and just buy them anyway.
But that’s football these days I’m afraid. Money killed the game long ago in my opinion.
The thing is Derek, the true superstars are big ticket items and the risk is not as great. The likes of Alvarez, blown up to be what he isn’t, are not true superstars and cost more than they are worth, on the pitch and resale. I fear, if he uses Arsenal to get away, he could be an expensive Pepe. Who wasn’t a bad player but like Alvarez not worth the outlay. And suffered, so did Arsenal.
Reggie,
I agree with you’re post. 👍
I don’t.
“blown up to be what he isn’t, are not true superstars”
But Alvarez is a true superstar of the football world today. He is a big ticket.
I can understand mentioning issues with family that took him out of UK. I can understand if we are getting a big ticket to redesign our play around them, it’s important they need to be committed to our cause, not using us as stepping stone.
I don’t understand a rant that Alvarez isn’t very good, and not one of best in world today.
Obviously football is meant to be different opinions, about players about systems, as example I don’t understand the raving about Tzolis when he is completely unproven to have premiership cutting edge as yet. But there is no arguing Alvarez is a gifted and special footballer.
No he isn’t. He is a big price tag, big difference. He is miles and miles behind the big ticket players, Mbappe, Kivitvilli, Dembele, Vinic jr, Haarland, Kane, Bellingham and Mousiala. They control and win games, single handedly. Alvarez could not lace their boots.
Better then what we have
Not on recent form. And for the price, not worth the hassle. The point is, he isn’t super class, he os below.
So tired of this drama, ready for the window to end. I believe Havertz would outperform Alvarez in the creative striker/10 role for our team. Sheer commitment alone is enough to start Havertz over Alvarez for me.
Never saw the hype with this guy; people talk like he is an elite striker, up there with Haaland and Mbappe. Not sure where or how, but his hype train continues.
I didn’t believe it when I saw it on JA yesterday but he scored 8 goals last season. So I had to double check.
8 GOALS!!!
And this is supposed to be our game changer?
Also 10 goals in 15 appearances in the Champions League though. Maybe that’s what they’re looking at him for.
Previous seasons he scored many more, so there are probably reasons his league form was poorer last season. I don’t follow Am though so don’t ask me! All I know is he’s no Sergio Aguero, that’s for sure.
He is no Sergio Agüero yes, because Alvarez gives you more. Yes these are two different players. Outside being a number 9 poacher so expect more goals Agüero didn’t put in as much hard work and sacrifice for the team as Alvarez does. you can’t really compare a classic 9 poacher with a classic “number 10”. Alvarez is highly rated as much for relentless pressing, intense off-the-ball running and defensive industriousness, as he for his explosive, penetrative runs into the box. In a way his personal stats are meaningless, how can they truly measure the work for the team, and how someone helpes people around them get better stats?
Exactly!!!!!!!