Arsenal’s potential move for Julián Álvarez could command a fee of around €150m, though this remains a developing situation rather than a done deal. That would mark a clear shift from Atlético Madrid’s previously hardline stance on the forward, even as he remains part of Diego Simeone’s first-team plans.
- Arsenal’s potential move for Álvarez carries a valuation of around €150m, though a deal is far from complete.
- Álvarez still featured for Atlético Madrid on 23 August, playing 24 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Villarreal despite an uncomfortable atmosphere at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
- The next step remains unclear, with Arsenal’s interest and Álvarez’s own stance both still up in the air.
Julián Álvarez’s Current Situation at Atlético Madrid
Julián Álvarez is still very much in Atlético Madrid’s plans for now, and his appearance against Villarreal underlined that. He came on in the 66th minute of Sunday’s 2-2 La Liga draw at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and played 24 minutes, proving he hasn’t been pushed out of the picture just yet.
That said, the mood around him has clearly become awkward. Álvarez was met by whistles and jeers from the home supporters when he entered the pitch, adding real context to why fresh transfer talk has picked up. It underlines the discomfort around his situation, but it still falls short of proving an exit is imminent.
Arsenal Interest and Álvarez’s Position
Arsenal’s side of the story is much less advanced than the headline figure might suggest. The Premier League club have been touted as a possible destination for Álvarez, but the situation remains unresolved and a move is not yet in place.
Álvarez’s own stance is also up in the air. He may yet decide that staying at Atlético is the right move, or he could be open to a Premier League switch, but that part of the picture remains unclear following the hostile reaction in Madrid. Barcelona are lingering in the background too, although doubts over whether they could fund a move help explain why Arsenal are the club most heavily linked.
Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Coventry City on 21 August offers only limited context. It shows Mikel Arteta’s side are up and running in the new campaign, but does not by itself mean this move is progressing.
Atlético Madrid’s Stance and Álvarez’s Future
The biggest reason to treat this as unresolved is Atlético Madrid’s own public stance from July. The club insisted then that Álvarez would not be sold for €100m, €150m or even €200m, so any willingness to entertain a deal around the middle of that range now would represent a major shift rather than confirmation that a transfer is on.
Álvarez is not just another squad player on the fringes of the team; his 17 La Liga goals in the 2024 regular season show exactly why Atlético’s position matters so much.
For Arsenal to turn these links into something more serious, three things need to line up: Atlético must genuinely soften their stance, Arsenal need to firm up their interest, and Álvarez himself has to be open to the move.
