Julian Alvarez issued a public transfer request at the World Cup and Atletico Madrid appear to have finally accepted that selling him is now the only viable solution
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Atletico de Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on March 10, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Julian Alvarez wants to leave Atletico Madrid(Image: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
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Atletico Madrid have finally changed their stance and are now open to selling Julian Alvarez to Arsenal - but the player remains steadfast in his desire to join Barcelona instead.
Alvarez, 26, is desperate to join Barca, who saw their €100million (£86m) bid rejected earlier this summer and were the subject of a complaint to FIFA from Atletico for allegedly tapping the player up.
That was the after Alvarez went public with his desire to leave during the World Cup. Atletico boss Diego Simeone declared earlier this month that the Argentina international's future had been decided, with the striker set to remain in Madrid for another season.
But Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo report that the situation has become untenable, forcing Atletico to accept a sale - except not to Barcelona. Simeone would even accept taking Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres as part of a swap deal which has been mooted in recent weeks.
Alvarez, however, doesn't want to return to England, having chosen to leave Manchester City in 2024. His heart is set on joining Barcelona, which is believed to be his 'dream' club.
In June, Alvarez declared: "I spoke with people at the club, with those I had to speak with and the best thing for everyone is a transfer and I want to fulfil my dream. It's not the time to talk about this, but I also can't hide it. I try to be an honest person."
CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has been firm, though, claiming that the only way in which Alvarez can be sold is if a club pays his extravagant €500million (£428m) release clause. "We don't want to transfer him," Gil Marin stated.
"We didn't accept the €100m offer, nor will we accept one for €150m or €200m. I have no doubt that Atletico is the right place for Julian and that Julian is the centre forward for Atletico Madrid. We want to keep him."
MAJADAHONDA, SPAIN - AUGUST 12: Julian Alvarez during the training day of Atletico de Madrid at Ciudad Deportiva Wanda Atletico de Madrid on August 12, 2026, in Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Julian Alvarez didn't play in Atletico Madrid's opener(Image: Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Alvarez missed Atletico's first game of the La Liga season, a 2-0 win at home to Malaga. Simeone explained pre-match that the former City star wasn't match fit, having been granted extra time off after helping Argentina reach the World Cup final.
"We don't believe Julian Alvarez is in the right condition to play or take part for tomorrow's game," the Atletico boss said. "Hopefully, over these next four days, he'll make further progress and we'll be closer to where we want him to be.
"We're looking after both the person and the player, and we understand that he is not in the right condition to play in this match."
Atletico's next game is on Sunday, hosting Villarreal. It remains to be seen whether Alvarez will feature.