Arsenal turn attention to Julian Alvarez after Vinicius Junior snub, but Atletico Madrid stand firm on exit.
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
Vinicius Junior has slammed the door on Arsenal after signing a new deal at Real Madrid, and news out of Spain says the club have shifted their transfer focus to Julian Alvarez instead.
Why Arsenal are turning to Alvarez
Arsenal have already been busy in the transfer market this window. They have signed Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, and Christos Tzolis this summer. The club also agreed a deal worth around £75 million for Bruno Guimaraes. Alvarez could now become their next target as the Gunners push for more firepower up front. Missing out on Vinicius Junior has clearly pushed Arsenal toward fresh options fast.
Alvarez has long impressed several top clubs across Europe with his calm finishing. He scored 29 goals in 54 games in his debut 2024-25 season at Atletico Madrid. Few strikers in Europe can match that kind of record. It makes him a strong fit for a Premier League side chasing trophies. He offers pace, sharp movement, and the kind of clinical edge Arsenal have often lacked in front of goal. His ability to drop deep and link play would also suit the style Mikel Arteta wants his side to use.
Alvarez’s stats for the 2025-26 season at Atletico Madrid, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
La Liga 29 8 4
UCL 15 10 4
Copa del Rey 4 2 1
Simeone sends clear message on Julian Alvarez
Atletico boss Diego Simeone has faced growing questions about his star man in recent days. As reported by Marca, he said the club has already made its choice on the matter. Simeone praised Alvarez as a player and as a person. He said the club wants to help him grow rather than force him out. He also pointed to how Atletico kept faith with Antoine Griezmann during a similar transfer saga two years ago. The coach said he prefers to solve such issues inside the club, not through the media.
As reported by ESPN, Atletico chief Miguel Angel Gil Marin has also spoken about the saga in recent weeks. He said Alvarez has shared his wish to leave the club this summer. But he was firm that Atletico never suggested they would let him go easily. Gil Marin said the club remains proud of what their striker brings to the team.
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
Barcelona race against clock as deal stalls
Barcelona have also shown strong interest in signing Alvarez this summer. Atletico have accused their rivals of making improper contact with the player. They say this happened while his deal was still under a protected period. They even filed a complaint with the Spanish football body over the matter. Arsenal believe Atletico will not sell to Barcelona at a normal price. A move would need to hit the release clause of around £430 million. That fee makes any deal hard for most clubs to complete right now. Barcelona have set a deadline of August 10 to get a deal done.
If that date passes with no deal, Arsenal could move faster for Julian Alvarez. Atletico have shown no sign of softening their stance on the player so far. Simeone clearly wants to keep his forward at the club next season. For now, Alvarez remains an Atletico player under his current deal. But with Barcelona’s deadline just two days away, this story could shift fast. Arsenal will be watching closely to see who moves first in the coming days.
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