Tom Weber
Tom Weber
Updated: 20 Apr 2026 18:11 BST
6 min read
Julian Alvarez, Arsenal
© IMAGO
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez is reportedly not thrilled by the prospect of returning to the Premier League - but this could actually be good news for Arsenal.
The Argentina international must have felt a sense of deja vu on Saturday. Despite an outstanding performance from Alvarez, Atletico Madrid lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Sociedad on penalties.
While a wonderful achievement from the Basque side, it was a hugely damaging result for Atleti. This was the Madrid club's best shot at major silverware in some time, but Diego Simeone's men yet again fell short.
Incredibly, Atleti have not won the Copa del Rey since 2013. The players were devastated after the game, knowing full well that they squandered a major opportunity. The Rojiblancos can still win the Champions League this term, but this will be an even bigger challenge than playing Erreala.
There is a decent chance that Alvarez's second season at the club also ends without tangible success. He joined the club because he wanted to be the star man in a team that wins trophies. He has, for the most part, held up his end of the bargain. Atleti have not.
Alvarez could leave Atleti
Reports have proliferated all season that Alvarez could depart the club this summer because of their inability to seriously challenge for major silverware. Of course, this could become a moot point if they prevail over Arsenal and win the Champions League final.
But the fact of the matter is that, so far, Alvarez's time in Spain's capital has been generally disappointing. It is no surprise, then, that the 26-year-old has kept the door ajar on a potential departure when discussing his future in recent interviews.
It has been well-documented that the striker has no shortage of suitors. Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked, LaLiga rivals Barcelona dream of his arrival, while PSG have also reportedly reignited their long-standing interest amid uncertainty over Goncalo Ramos' future.
Mundo Deportivo has now provided an update on the situation. The Barcelona-linked outlet claims that Alvarez favours a move to Catalunya, though there is an awareness that the LaLiga leaders will struggle to fund a deal.
Barcelona have set an internal spending cap of €100 million, so Atleti would have to do them a favour. Naturally, this won't happen, and it is believed that the Madrid club won't consider selling for anything below €120m. The club's new owners have no appetite to sell their star player.
As for Arsenal, the report accepts that they are a "tempting" destination. However, it is claimed that Alvarez is not particularly interested in returning to the Premier League after his previous spell at Man City. This, though, could be a blessing in disguise for Mikel Arteta.
Alvarez too expensive and not a strong fit
Arsenal's interest in Alvarez is unsurprising. Andrea Berta, who recruited the Argentine for Atleti, is in charge of recruitment at the Emirates, and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres has struggled to perform against elite Premier League opposition.
However, there is a strong argument to be made that Arsenal don't necessarily need Alvarez. Despite Gyokeres' outrageous goalscoring record in Portugal, it was all but inevitable that he would need a few months - or a whole season - to come to grips with Premier League football.
Julian Alvarez
© IMAGO - Julian Alvarez
Given the money shelled out on the Swede and the fact that Arsenal need to be wary of spending rules this summer, they would be well advised to keep faith in Gyokeres. A return of 12 goals in the league is not terrible, even if he has mostly been a flat-track bully against lesser opposition.
Arsenal are planning to sign an elite left-winger, they could add a central midfielder and they will likely have to sign a new right-back. None of these operations will be cheap, so the Gunners may be better off not spending north of €100m on a striker.
This sentiment is backed up by data. According to analytics firm SciSports, Alvarez would not be a particularly strong fit for Arsenal. His Club Fit rating of 70 out of 100 is solid but unspectacular.
This score is calculated by analysing various factors such as game time prospects, playing style and development opportunities. His stylistic fit for Arsenal is not great, with the 26-year-old only receiving three out of a possible five stars.
In fact, all potential Premier League options only receive middling scores. Man City and Man Utd clock in at a Club Fit rating of 71 and 70, respectively, while Liverpool only receive a score of 68.
There is no denying that Alvarez is a world-class player - he showed it in the Copa del Rey final with his spectacular goal - but the €120m+ it would cost to acquire him would be better spent elsewhere as far as Arsenal are concerned.
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