Atletico Madrid verify Julian Alvarez switch stance amid Barcelona and Arsenal battle

Atletico Madrid have moved to finish any lingering uncertainty over Julian Alvarez’s future, formally confirming that the striker won’t be offered to Barcelona – a stance that leaves Arsenal as his most lifelike route out of the Spanish capital.

In an announcement launched by the membership, Atletico’s Board of Administrators gave their unanimous backing to the choice to freeze Barcelona out of any negotiations. The membership confused they continue to be open to doing enterprise available in the market, however solely “in an moral {and professional} method and with respect between golf equipment” – circumstances they are saying Barcelona have failed to fulfill.

Because of this, the assertion confirms there have been no talks over Alvarez with Barcelona, and none will comply with.

Atletico added that they anticipate their ahead to simply accept the choice and proceed giving his all for the membership, pointing to the way in which he has represented them over the previous two seasons.

Learn the complete assertion under, by way of Fabrizio Romano:

“The members of Atlético Madrid’s Board of Administrators have unanimously expressed their full help for the membership’s choice to not negotiate the switch of Julián Alvarez to FC Barcelona. The members of the Board of Administrators are conscious that: Atlético Madrid is open to negotiations which can be a part of the switch market, however at all times in an moral {and professional} method and with respect between golf equipment.

“We absolutely help the place beforehand communicated by the membership that FC Barcelona haven’t met these necessities and, in consequence, there have been no negotiations, nor will there be any negotiations with them relating to the switch of Julián Alvarez.”

For Arsenal, the timing may hardly be higher. Alvarez has lengthy been earmarked as one in every of Mikel Arteta’s precedence targets to steer the road, with Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta mentioned to have maintained common contact over a possible deal. The Argentine had reportedly been holding out for a transfer to Barcelona, pushed partly by household and life-style components, however that path now appears all however closed with Atletico refusing to even interact.

The Impartial has reported that Arsenal’s pitch to Alvarez centres on restoring him to his greatest place – a central, roaming No.9 position with license to press and drop into pockets, slightly than the extensive or withdrawn duties he has generally been requested to fill underneath Diego Simeone.

Arsenal are additionally understood to have leverage within the form of Viktor Gyokeres or Gabriel Jesus, both of whom may curiosity Atletico as makeweights in a deal, with Simeone eager on reinforcements up entrance.

Any transfer would nonetheless require Arsenal to fulfill a considerable charge and match or exceed Alvarez’s reported £200,000-a-week wages in La Liga. However with Barcelona now formally out of the image, Atletico’s assertion represents a major increase to Arsenal’s hopes of prising away one in every of European soccer’s most sought-after forwards earlier than the market shuts.