REUTERS/Thomas Peter
One of the big transfer sagas of the story has revolved around the future of Julian Alvarez. The Argentine striker has been desperate to join Barcelona all summer, but Atletico Madrid have remained steadfast that he will not be sold to a rival.
This has, perhaps, opened the door for Arsenal to swoop. GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has explained that the Gunners are keen on the former Manchester City ace, but it's unclear if he would welcome a return to the Premier League.
One thing is for certain: Alvarez would prioritise a move to Barcelona over anything else this summer. But it seems very unlikely that Atletico will sell him, especially after their recent explosive statement.
Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez
Atletico Claim They Are the Victims of the Alvarez Saga
Reuters/Paul Childs
Headlines were made over the weekend as Alvarez came off the bench for his team in their La Liga draw with Villarreal. Diego Simeone wasn't planning on playing the forward, but club CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is said to have insisted that the Argentine feature.
Reports suggest that he wanted the striker to be subjected to the boos of the Metropolitano Crowd. Adding to this, he was also told to exit the pitch after full time without acknowledging the fans with the rest of his teammates.
Images of a forlorn-looking Alvarez have sparked debate about the fairness of the situation, but a club statement has now insisted that they are the true victims in it all. They told Spanish outlet Marca:
“The player is being victimised, but the only victim of the Julian case is us. They have harmed us economically and socially.
“There is zero per cent chance of selling him to Barca. This situation is not about money, it’s about dignity. There is zero per cent chance of selling it to Barca.
“There’s a campaign with many lies and half-truths. The only one who pays for this is Atletico."
Joan Laporta Has Been Open About Barcelona Interest
REUTERS/Albert Gea
Those comments came as a reaction after Barcelona president Joan Laporta released a statement expressing the club’s wish to get a deal for Alvarez done. He said:
"The truth is that we’re very interested in the player. We’d like our offer to be accepted and we say this with all due respect to Atletico Madrid.
"And we want them to know that if they are open to selling during the summer transfer window we would be willing to buy the player in accordance with the offer we’ve submitted to them.”
After this latest dramatic turn, it feels unlikely that Barcelona have any hopes of landing Alvarez. It's interesting to note, however, that Atletico do not rule out a sale completely, but instead only insist that he will not join Barca.
This could be good news for Arsenal, who will almost certainly pounce if given the green light. As per the Independent, the Gunners may offer another forward as part of a deal, with Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus mentioned.
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