Atlético Madrid still have Julián Álvarez in their first-team plans following his appearance in the 2-0 La Liga win over Málaga CF on 19 August, even as his future becomes one of the summer’s biggest transfer talking points. Arsenal might be the route Atlético are more willing to explore, while Álvarez reportedly prefers a move to Barcelona, though no transfer agreement has been confirmed.
- Atlético Madrid are reportedly more open to an Arsenal move than a switch to Barcelona.
- Álvarez is heavily linked with Barcelona as his preferred destination, but a deal is not necessarily close.
- Arsenal may need to make a significant sale before a move for the Argentina forward becomes realistic.
Julián Álvarez’s Current Situation at Atlético Madrid
Julián Álvarez remains an Atlético Madrid forward, and that matters because the noise surrounding his future has not changed his immediate place in the squad. His appearance against Málaga CF on 19 August underlined that he is still very much in the first-team picture while the transfer talk rolls on in the background.
Álvarez is said to have told Diego Simeone he wants to leave during this summer window, a message he is understood to have repeated in a face-to-face conversation. Even so, the relationship between player and manager is described as cordial despite disagreements over Simeone’s tactics. Simeone has continued to count on him, leaving any final call on a departure to Atlético’s executives.
His numbers show why he is attracting so much attention. In La Liga in 2025, Álvarez made 29 appearances, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. He also produced four goals and two assists in the Champions League group stage, six goals and two assists in the competition’s knockout stages, plus two goals and one assist in the Copa del Rey.
Arsenal’s Possible Route to Álvarez
Arsenal are being touted as the destination Atlético would be more willing to explore if Álvarez does leave, with Atlético more open to this route than the Barcelona option. There is still no confirmed deal or formal bid.
The practical issue is money. Big money would be required for Álvarez, and a move may only become realistic if Arsenal create room through a significant sale, with Gabriel Martinelli the kind of departure mentioned in that context. So, even if Atlético are more open to conversations with Arsenal than Barcelona, there is still a major step between interest and an actual transfer.
Barcelona Preference and Atlético’s Club Stance
Barcelona are being linked as Álvarez’s preferred destination, which helps explain why this situation feels more complicated than a straightforward Premier League move. He is also viewed as part of Barcelona’s longer-term attacking thinking as the club weighs up life after Robert Lewandowski, but that preference alone does not point to advanced talks.
Atlético’s public line has been much firmer. Chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín said: “We cannot allow other clubs and their friendly media to decide what we have to do, dictate our sporting strategy and disrespect us.” He also suggested Álvarez had not had the best advisers around him in recent months.
Barcelona may appeal more to the player, while Arsenal might be the route Atlético are more prepared to entertain, but neither strand on its own is enough to push a deal over the line.
What Could Decide Álvarez’s Next Move
Álvarez’s next step remains unresolved as the market develops.
For Atlético, that means keeping a top-class forward involved while the market develops. For Arsenal and Barcelona, it means the opportunity is still there in theory, but only one route currently appears easier to imagine from the club side.
