Atletico Madrid will be happy to sell 26-year-old Argentine international Julian Alvarez to Arsenal this summer.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested in Julian Alvarez. However, Atletico Madrid will not allow the 26-year-old to join another La Liga club, and they have instead given the green light to Arsenal to pursue a deal in the ongoing transfer window. Meanwhile, the player’s preference remains to join Barcelona in the coming weeks.
Julian Alvarez and his fruitful La Liga spell so far
Julian Alvarez has become one of the world’s best strikers since joining Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in a surprise move in August 2024. Though inconsistent at times, the South American attacker has become a key figure for Los Rojiblancos in the last two seasons, and he was influential in the recently concluded campaign.
The Argentine international scored 20 goals and provided nine assists in 49 outings across all competitions in the 2025/26 season. Meanwhile, Alvarez has been slow off the blocks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though he has played his part in Argentina’s progress to the semi-finals after scoring the match-winning goal against Switzerland in the quarter-final. However, his future at the club level remains unresolved.
What next for Alvarez?
Arsenal are pursuing a versatile attacker in the ongoing transfer window, even though Mikel Arteta has three strikers in his squad. However, Gabriel Jesus’s long-term future is reportedly uncertain, while Viktor Gyokeres has impressed in fits and starts since arriving from Sporting CP last summer. So, Alvarez has emerged as a viable target for Arsenal. Recent reports have claimed that they are ready to sell Jesus and Kai Havertz to land him.
Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez has been on Barcelona’s radar for a long time. The continued interest is understandable, as Robert Lewandowski has left as a free agent, creating a gaping hole in the attack. So, Barcelona must pursue a top-class striker, with Alvarez reportedly emerging as a top target for the Blaugrana.
As for Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe has been the first-choice striker for Los Blancos. However, Alvarez’s versatility can make him the ideal foil to the French international, particularly amid widespread speculation surrounding Vinicius Junior’s long-term future. With new manager Jose Mourinho not fixated on a formation, Alvarez and Mbappe can co-exist in the Real Madrid attack.
However, with Atletico Madrid giving the green light to Arsenal, the Gunners have advantage over Barcelona and Real Madrid in the race to sign the Argentine international. Atletico Madrid’s reluctance to sell to another La Liga club adds to the Premier League club’s leverage, though per TEAMtalk, PSG’s threat remains, as the Ligue 1 champions are in contact with the player’s camp.