The future of Julián Álvarez at Atlético de Madrid takes another turn with just a week left until the transfer market closes. The red-and-white team would be willing to consider an offer of around 150 million euros from Arsenal, a possibility that would not extend to Barcelona, despite the Argentine forward's desire still being to land at the blue-and-red club.
The information comes from Mario Cortegana in The Athletic, who cites a source close to the Atlético management. According to this version, the only formula that the club currently contemplates for Julián Álvarez to leave the Metropolitano this summer is for Arsenal to put those 150 million on the table. The same source considers, however, that it is unlikely that the reigning Premier League champion will reach such an amount.
The stance introduces a fundamental element in one of the major sagas of the market: Atlético is not only evaluating how much money they would receive for Julián Álvarez, but also the player's destination. The club insists that selling him to Barcelona is not an option, while Real Madrid has already seen a proposal of 150 million euros rejected previously. The scenario thus outlines a very specific path for a possible exit: a large offer from England.
Arsenal, the only avenue Atlético contemplates
Arsenal has been following Julián Álvarez for some time and keeps the possibility of signing him open. According to information from The Athletic, the English club was in contact last week with both Atlético and the forward's environment to learn the conditions of a potential operation.
The Londoners are now waiting for signals from the Argentine's environment before taking further steps. The difficulty is not only in meeting Atlético's financial demands: there is also uncertainty at Arsenal about to what extent Julián Álvarez would be willing to return to the Premier League, where he already played with Manchester City.
That is precisely one of the main obstacles for the operation to succeed. The player's preference remains to sign for Barcelona, according to sources familiar with the situation cited by The Athletic. For the Arsenal option to become a real alternative, that willingness would have to change.
150 million from Real Madrid were not enough
The figure is especially significant because Atlético had previously on the table a proposal of approximately 150 million euros from Real Madrid and decided to reject it. Money, therefore, does not constitute by itself the sufficient condition for the red-and-white team to allow their forward to leave.
Atlético wants to avoid strengthening their major competitors in Spain. The position regarding Barcelona is especially forceful: the information published this Monday indicates that the red-and-white club continues to convey that a transfer of Julián Álvarez to Barça is not an option.
The difference between both scenarios explains the apparent contradiction between rejecting 150 million coming from Real Madrid and being willing to evaluate a similar amount from Arsenal. A departure to London would allow Atlético to obtain an extraordinary figure for the forward without directly strengthening one of their main rivals in LaLiga.
Barcelona waits until the end, but prepares alternatives
Barcelona, meanwhile, still does not completely consider the operation lost. The blue-and-burgundy club would be willing to wait until the last days of the summer market to see if the situation between Julián Álvarez and Atlético ends up forcing the Madrid entity to sit down to negotiate.
The strategy presents, however, an evident problem. Although the player maintains his preference for Barcelona, Atlético continues to refuse to facilitate that operation. The Catalan team therefore depends on a significant change in the red-and-white stance during the last days of the market.
Barça also does not want to face the market closure without alternatives. In parallel to their wait for Julián Álvarez, the sports management is working on other possible targets to strengthen the attack, aware that the Argentine forward may end up remaining in Madrid or taking a different direction.
The whistles at the Metropolitano complicate the situation even more
The new information arrives after a particularly uncomfortable episode for Julián Álvarez at the Metropolitano. The forward was received with whistles and insults from Atlético fans during the 2-2 draw against Villarreal, in his first appearance with the team after having expressed his intention to leave.
His name was met with whistles when the lineup was announced and the reaction occurred again when he started to warm up and later jumped onto the field. After the match ended, the Argentine headed towards the tunnel without approaching to greet the fans alongside the rest of his teammates. Diego Simeone later explained that this decision had come from the club itself.
Julián had already communicated to Atlético his desire to leave and reiterated it to Simeone after returning from the World Cup. With the market entering its final days, the distance between the player's will and the club's position remains the main blockage of an operation in which a possible exit door now appears.
Arsenal, Atlético, and Julián need to come to an agreement
The scenario leaves three conditions that would have to coincide to unlock the future of the Argentine. Arsenal would have to decide to make an investment close to 150 million euros, Atlético would have to finally agree to part with one of its main stars, and Julián would have to give up his current preference for Barcelona to return to English football.
For now, none of those three conditions is guaranteed. The source close to the rojiblanco management cited by The Athletic considers it unlikely that Arsenal will reach the figure that would allow negotiations to begin, while the player continues to look towards Barcelona.
The difference is that, for the first time in this final stretch of the market, a specific amount and destination capable of opening the door appear. Atlético is considering Arsenal's 150 million, but does not want Julián Álvarez to end up in Barcelona or Real Madrid. The price matters, but at the Metropolitano, it also matters who is willing to pay it.