Alvarez tells Arteta he does not want Arsenal move

The Deadline in Madrid

Atletico Madrid have given striker Julian Alvarez until Sunday to decide whether he will stay at the Spanish club or open up to the idea of joining Arsenal, according to Sky Sports.

The 26-year-old Argentina international has been told repeatedly, both publicly and privately, that he will not be sold to Barcelona, which Sky Sports reports is his own preferred destination. Atletico have made clear they will not negotiate with the Catalan club.

Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin said on Friday that Alvarez was "really struggling" and "completely confused", adding: "There were people who misled him, who left him confused, and the truth is that I deeply regret it."

Arsenal's Position

Arsenal, the Premier League champions, will not open negotiations until the player shows considerable interest in being part of manager Mikel Arteta's plans, Sky Sports reports. The club believe it is unlikely he will join them.

The Standard reports that Arsenal continue to work on a deal in the background, and that Atletico could be open to selling to the north London club for the right price.

Speaking to TNT Sports on Saturday morning, The Athletic's David Ornstein said Alvarez had spoken to Arteta and told him he does not want to come to England. "Atletico Madrid would do a deal with Arsenal. Arsenal are prepared to reach a club-to-club agreement, but they would want the player to want to join them," Ornstein said, adding that there is currently a low chance of the move happening.

The Player's Week

Alvarez missed Atletico's 3-1 win over Sevilla in La Liga, Spain's top division. The Standard reports he stayed away from the first team because of a stomach bug; Sky Sports reported that manager Diego Simeone confirmed he would not play, having not trained for three days.

Sporting director Mateu Alemany said the player had trained alone at the club's facilities and was expected to rejoin the group. "I spoke with him at training yesterday and everything seemed normal," Alemany told Movistar.

The Standard notes that Alvarez was booed by Atletico's own fans during a draw with Villarreal the previous weekend, walking straight down the tunnel afterwards in what the outlet describes as a pre-agreed decision with the club. Atletico are next in action on September 5 against Athletic Club.

Whether Alvarez met the Sunday deadline, and what he decided, is not yet reported by these sources. Arteta declined to be drawn directly on Arsenal's interest, telling reporters that players who read speculation should "come and knock on my door".