Arsenal have received encouragement in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, with the Atletico Madrid forward reportedly becoming more open to a move to north London after talks with Mikel Arteta.
The 26-year-old has been at the centre of one of the summer’s longest-running transfer sagas, with Arsenal and Barcelona both showing strong interest. According to Diario AS via Standard, Alvarez remains determined to leave Atletico before the deadline and is now softening his previous reluctance to return to the Premier League and That could give Arsenal a genuine opening.
Arsenal emerge as a realistic destination
Alvarez has long been attracted by the possibility of joining Barcelona, but Atletico Madrid are extremely reluctant to strengthen a domestic rival. That stance has complicated the Catalan club’s pursuit and increased Arsenal’s chances of securing the Argentina international.
Arteta is understood to have spoken with Alvarez as Arsenal continue looking for another elite attacker after failing to convince Vinicius Junior to leave Real Madrid. Those conversations are believed to have helped change the striker’s view of a potential return to England. The door to Arsenal is now described as being ajar, with Alvarez increasingly considering the Emirates Stadium as a viable destination.
Atletico determined to keep Alvarez
A deal remains difficult because Atletico have repeatedly insisted that Alvarez will not leave and Diego Simeone reiterated that position over the weekend and expects the forward to remain part of his plans, while CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has also publicly pushed back against suggestions of an exit.
However, reports in Spain indicate that the relationship between Alvarez and Atletico has become increasingly strained. The player is reportedly frustrated by the club’s refusal to facilitate a move and wants his future resolved before the transfer window closes and that tension could eventually force Atletico into a decision if Arsenal make a substantial proposal.
This is probably Arsenal’s biggest encouragement yet in the Alvarez saga. Until now, the major obstacle was not just Atletico’s refusal to sell, but the player’s preference for Barcelona. If Alvarez is genuinely opening the door to Arsenal, Arteta suddenly has a much clearer route.
The difficulty is price and Atletico’s resistance. Simeone clearly does not want to lose him. But if Alvarez pushes hard enough and Arsenal are prepared to make a serious offer, this could become one of the defining deals of the final days of the window.