Julián Álvarez, the Atlético Madrid striker, missed training for a second consecutive day, with reports indicating his absence was due to illness rather than transfer-related issues. The situation surrounding Álvarez’s future at the club has become increasingly tense, as Atlético Madrid has publicly stated its refusal to negotiate a transfer with Barcelona.
The 26-year-old player reportedly desires a move to Barcelona, a stance that Barcelona president Joan Laporta publicly reiterated. However, Atlético Madrid has made its position clear, stating that they will not engage in discussions with their LaLiga rivals regarding Álvarez. The club issued a statement on Thursday, asserting that Barcelona failed to meet professional, ethical, and respectful negotiation requirements.
A club statement on Thursday emphasized that Atlético Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted appropriately. However, they firmly stated that there would be no negotiation and zero consideration for an Álvarez transfer to Barcelona due to the perceived failure to meet these requirements. The club expressed confidence that Álvarez would understand this decision and remain focused on his responsibilities, as he has done during his two seasons with the team.
According to Marca, a Spanish sports newspaper, the club previously described themselves as the victims in this situation, stating that Barcelona had harmed them both financially and socially. They affirmed a “zero-per-cent chance” of selling Álvarez to Barcelona, clarifying that the decision was about dignity, not money.
London or Madrid for Álvarez
The environment surrounding Álvarez’s future is described as “extremely tense” by Atlético expert and journalist Ruben Uria. Álvarez’s public desire to leave has reportedly led to disapproval from the club’s supporters, who booed him after a 2-2 draw with Villarreal on Sunday. This reaction is understood to be prompting Álvarez to consider a potential move to Arsenal.
Uria suggests that Álvarez now has two primary options: remain at Atlético Madrid or move to Arsenal. He interprets Atlético Madrid‘s statement as a public declaration that they will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances. This position is not only held by the CEO but also by the club and its majority shareholder, Apollo. Uria believes the message to Álvarez is clear: “Either you go to London, or you stay. We will never negotiate with Barcelona.”
For Arsenal, their position remains unchanged, with the club believing that signing Álvarez is unlikely before the transfer deadline. They would require significant encouragement from the player to initiate negotiations with Atlético. Dialogue between Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and Atlético CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is ongoing, a relationship that has existed throughout the summer due to their previous collaboration at Atlético Madrid.
Atlético Madrid is reportedly exploring contingency plans, including the possibility of acquiring a new striker. One player on their radar is Arsenal‘s Viktor Gyokeres, as the Spanish club aims to assess Arsenal‘s willingness to sell the Sweden international. Another player of interest, Nicolas Jackson, is reportedly heading to Aston Villa.
Transfer Deadline Approaches
Atlético Madrid is pushing for a resolution to the Álvarez situation by Friday, effectively giving the player a deadline to decide his future. Should Álvarez push for a move to Arsenal and an acceptable price is met, Atlético would need time to secure replacements. The Argentine’s ultimate ambition is understood to be joining Barcelona, but Arsenal has continued to pursue a deal, aware of Atlético‘s firm stance against doing business with their LaLiga rivals. This position was reaffirmed in recent meetings aimed at resolving the situation.
Barcelona could potentially alter this dynamic with an offer of approximately €150m (£128m). However, both Atlético and Arsenal believe that the Spanish champions currently lack the necessary budget to approach such a figure. Arsenal‘s perspective throughout this saga is that the situation could shift in their favour as the transfer window nears its close.
An additional advantage for Arsenal is the possibility of offering players in exchange. Atlético manager Diego Simeone has been looking to strengthen his attack, and both Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus are considered appealing options for the Madrid club. There is a possibility that Gyokeres, or both players, along with a financial fee, could be part of a deal, potentially smoothing the transfer process.
Álvarez’s view on a move to Arsenal is understood to have softened, despite his initial preference to remain in Spain for lifestyle and family reasons, as well as the prestige of a club like Barcelona. He has reportedly been informed that Arsenal would utilise him in his preferred position and build their attack around him, following a season where Simeone deployed him in an unconventional role. The next 24 to 48 hours are considered crucial in understanding Álvarez’s intentions, whether he chooses to stay at Atlético and mend his relationship with the fans and club, or push for an exit.
Atlético Madrid aims to avoid prolonging the situation until the final day of the transfer window.
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Source: skysports.com
Ananya Iyer is a reporter at Latest News, covering society, culture and human-interest stories from across India.
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