Arsenal would be keen to sign Julian Alvarez but Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been battling to sign the Atletico Madrid striker
Atletico Madrid’s president has doubled down on his stance regarding Arsenal transfer target Julian Alvarez.
On Tuesday, Real Madrid declared they’d made a monstrous bid worth up to £130million (€150m) for the Argentina international, which they claimed Atletico flatly rejected.
Speaking since then, Atleti president Enrique Cerezo clarified that there will be no movement regarding the former Manchester City striker, even if other clubs enter the fray.
Cerezo told reporters: “Julian Alvarez is not for sale. We don’t want to sell him.”
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While that’s the clear message from the top at the Metropolitano, Alvarez is still believed to be keen on a move away from the club.
Arsenal have been watching developments from afar alongside Paris Saint-Germain but their chances of striking a deal remain very slim, particularly now that Real Madrid has put huge cash on the table.
This means that even if there is a twist in the tail, Atletico will command the fee they were offered by Real Madrid as a minimum.
That would be a club-record fee for Arsenal by some distance, shattering the £105m shelled out to West Ham for Declan Rice back in 2023.
Arsenal are also tracking Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi but the Cherries remain insistent that Kroupi will not be sold.
Alvarez is keeping quiet over his future for now as he is currently focused on the World Cup where Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J.
He has also been battling an ankle injury which he picked up against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final.
If he were to leave Atleti, it’s understood his preference remains to join Barcelona, who have made him a top summer transfer target after also landing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
Real Madrid’s statement regarding the bid read: “Following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez.
“After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atletico de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.”
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