FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on June 20, 2026 6:00 pm | Updated on June 20, 2026 12:51 pm Romano reveals Real Madrid’s Alvarez pursuit was a bluff, boosting Arsenal’s chances
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Arsenal are closing in on one of the most exciting transfer sagas of this summer, and the latest news from the transfer front is significant. Real Madrid have effectively walked away from the race to sign Julian Alvarez.
Real Madrid’s interest in Julian Alvarez Was Never Genuine
As reported by TEAMtalk, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Real Madrid have “completely, completely disappeared” from the race for Julian Alvarez. That happened in the last ten days. The reason is striking, their €150 million offer to Atletico Madrid was never a real one.
People inside Atletico read it as a bluff almost immediately. Real Madrid knew Atletico would never sell to a domestic rival. So the bid was more of a public statement than a genuine move. For the Gunners, that clears the path a little. They have been quietly monitoring the situation, and this development works in their favour.
What Real Madrid actually wanted was Michael Olise. Romano says Florentino Perez’s “Galactico” target was always the Bayern Munich winger. The Atletico striker was never truly the priority. Once Bayern shut the door on any Olise deal, Los Blancos changed direction entirely. That shift matters a lot for where this saga goes next.
Where Julian Alvarez Stands Now
Julian Alvarez is one of the most wanted forwards in European **football**right now. He scored twenty goals and made 9 assists in 49 appearances for Atletico this season. Mikel Arteta also knows him well from their time together at Manchester City. That personal history gives the north London side a real advantage in this race.
Julian Alvarez for Atletico Madrid in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
La Liga 29 8 4
Copa del Rey 4 2 1
Super Cup 1 0 0
UCL 15 10 4
His preference, though, has stayed the same throughout. As reported by Football365, he has pushed back on moves to both Paris Saint-Germain and the Gunners. Barcelona remains his first choice. The Catalan club are reportedly “obsessed” with signing him. But their finances are shaky, and it is still unclear how they will fund a move of this size.
There were also reports of a swap deal. The deal would have sent Viktor Gyokeres to Atletico, with the Argentine heading the other way. TEAMtalk‘s own insider played down those claims. But what is clear is that the club is in regular contact with both Atletico and the player’s camp. That kind of ongoing dialogue is rarely meaningless.
What This Means for Arsenal’s Summer
As reported by TransferFeed, Julian Alvarez is the club’s top attacking target this summer. The Premier League champions need a striker who can push them deeper into Europe. Arteta has a clear profile in mind, and the Argentine fits it well. The Gunners also have a manager who has worked with him before, which is not a small thing.
The asking price is around €150 million, as reported by TransferFeed. That is a significant fee by any measure. But the club have the funds and the relationship, two things most other interested sides lack right now.
Real Madrid have now stepped back entirely. Barcelona are struggling financially. The field is thinning. That gives Arteta’s side their best shot yet at signing a player who could genuinely change the ceiling of this football club. The Spider, as he is known among fans, is the kind of forward who wins you trophies. Whether his personal preference shifts is the one thing standing between this deal and the finish line. The signs, at least structurally, are pointing in the right direction.
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Eishna Rawat
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