Alvarez Impasse: Atletico Block Barca, Arsenal Circle

Deadline Standoff in Madrid

Julian Alvarez, the 26-year-old Argentina striker at Atletico Madrid, is at the centre of a transfer standoff that BBC Sport describes as the biggest deal to watch before the transfer deadline at 23:00 BST on Tuesday.

According to BBC Sport, Alvarez wants to leave Atletico, but the Spanish club refuse to sell him to Barcelona. They would, however, do a deal with Arsenal, the English club that has held a long-term interest in him.

BBC Sport reports Atletico are looking for a fee of 150m euros, which it gives as £128m. Alvarez has missed multiple training sessions and did not travel to face Sevilla on Saturday, with Atletico head coach Diego Simeone saying he was not well enough.

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The Arsenal Approach

TEAMtalk reported on 31 August that Arsenal remain attentive to the situation and are working behind the scenes to make a move to London as straightforward as possible for the player and his entourage.

Sources cited by TEAMtalk say Alvarez would in theory be willing to move to London, but wants to relocate with members of his extended family, who have been living with him in the suburbs of Madrid. That raises questions of visas and accommodation, which TEAMtalk says Arsenal are aware of and would address.

TEAMtalk also reports that discussions have included the possibility of a future Barcelona clause being written into any Arsenal agreement. Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal, and TEAMtalk understands the Catalan club have told Alvarez they could return for him in 2027.

Simeone and the Dressing Room

Goal.com reports that the relationship between Simeone and Alvarez has reached breaking point, with the manager said to be feeling betrayed. La Liga commentator Phil Kitromilides told CBS Sports that the dressing room is very disappointed with Alvarez and that Simeone "can't even look at him".

Kitromilides said Simeone had backed Alvarez publicly through a spell of nearly four months without a goal last season, calling him the club's franchise player around whom the whole project is built.

BBC Sport reports Simeone has tried to keep the door open, saying he will "do everything" he can to make Alvarez feel important when he returns to training. Goal.com says Alvarez returned to work with his teammates on Sunday.

Record and Open Questions

TEAMtalk reports Alvarez has scored 49 times in 107 appearances for Atletico since a 95m euro move from Manchester City in the summer of 2024, a figure it converts to £81.8m and $112m.

Whether Alvarez accepts Barcelona's reported assurance about 2027, moves to Arsenal, or stays at Atletico is not yet known. None of the sources report an agreed transfer.