According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Atletico Madrid will not let Julian Alvarez join Barcelona, and the path to Arsenal is also far from being realized due to the differences in positions among the three parties.
At the end of last season, Alvarez privately expressed his desire to leave, and during the World Cup, he publicly stated his wish to leave this summer. The fans at the Metropolitan Stadium expressed their dissatisfaction with boos, but the Argentine striker currently has no possibility of leaving. On one hand, Atletico Madrid's management, led by Miguel Ángel Gil and including Enrique Cerezo and Matteu Alemanni, has made it clear that his dream of joining Barcelona is impossible unless Barcelona pays his €500 million release clause. On the other hand, while Arsenal has been considered as a possible route, due to concerns from all parties, there is no sign of progress in the short term. Therefore, unless there is an unexpected turn of events in the final week of the transfer window, "Little Spider" will have no choice but to change his situation and continue playing for Atletico Madrid.
At his first press conference in Seoul this season, Simeone stated that since the club had decided not to release him, he would offer on-field support to help Alvarez regain his best form. His teammates also expressed their support; Oblak, speaking on behalf of the dressing room, said everyone would support Julian until his last day in the Atlético Madrid jersey. The club is also trying to restore his daily routine; after last Sunday's match, they advised him not to approach the stands to greet the fans to avoid further boos. Currently, it seems the only precedent the Argentine can follow to overcome his predicament is how Griezmann regained the fans' forgiveness on the pitch years ago.
Alvarez is aware that Barcelona is not a viable option, and he understands that only Arsenal could potentially free him from Atletico Madrid. However, he is not interested in any other club besides Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid is not satisfied with Arsenal's current offer. Going forward, even if he continues to be booed at the Metropolitan Stadium and his desire to join Barcelona remains unfulfilled, his first choice remains to stay in Spain. He has experience playing for Manchester City and is unwilling to return to the Premier League, and living in England presents inconveniences, as visa issues would prevent his family from being with him.
Similarly, despite Arteta's warm welcome, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid's negotiations failed to reach an agreement. On one hand, Arsenal never offered Atletico more than €150 million, a sum Real Madrid was initially willing to pay. On the other hand, the proposal to include Jocres in the deal was never approved by Arsenal. Therefore, Atletico Madrid maintained its stance and was determined to keep Alvarez.
The final week of "pressure"
Fernando Hidalgo's efforts to bring Alvarez to Barcelona have so far failed, but with a week left before the transfer window closes, his future remains uncertain. The reason for the speculation isn't through Barcelona, but rather because the heavily criticized Atletico Madrid advisor is reportedly considering having the player's agent continue to pressure Arsenal for an option. However, Atletico Madrid's management has made it clear: Alvarez will not leave.
