Julian Alvarez was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and Barcelona in the summer transfer window, but the forward ultimately stayed at Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill has offered insight into Julian Alvarez’s situation, maintaining his teammates will support him in rediscovering his finest form and that the club are ‘lucky’ to retain him following a chaotic summer. The Argentine made his desire to depart Atletico crystal clear, with both Arsenal and Barcelona reportedly pursuing his services.
The Gunners have maintained a long-standing interest in the 26-year-old, particularly following Gabriel Martinelli’s departure to Al Hilal, alongside the exits of Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard. Nevertheless, Alvarez’s heart was always set on joining Barcelona – a switch Atletico refused to approve, despite allegedly engaging in discussions with their La Liga rivals regarding a potential deal.
Alvarez, alongside his colleagues, witnessed the tumultuous summer unfold from within, though he ultimately remained at the Wanda Metropolitano when the transfer window closed at the beginning of the month.
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Addressing the circumstances, Atletico defender Pubill remarked: “We experienced it inside the dressing room in the same way as people did from the outside. Julian is a spectacular player, extremely good, and luckily we have him here. We’re all going to enjoy having him. We will help him. Hopefully he gives us his maximum because he’s a top player.”
Barcelona president Joan Laporta slammed Atletico for their handling of the entire saga surrounding Alvarez’s future. “We were getting information that they were putting Alvarez up for sale, but in the end they took off the mask and said they were selling it to anyone but Barca,” Laporta stated. “We were always transparent.
“We talked to Gil Marin [Atletico’s CEO], we presented an offer. They replied that they had no alternative and we urged them to be able to talk if they had it. I don’t understand what that disproportionate reaction came to next.”
Alvarez has featured in three La Liga matches for Atletico since the transfer window slammed shut but is yet to earn a starting berth. He was recently ruled out for two fixtures with muscular issues before making his comeback in the 2‐1 triumph over rivals Real Madrid, where he featured for 28 minutes.
Whether Arsenal make their move when the New Year window opens on January 1 remains to be seen. It’s also uncertain whether Atletico would be prepared to let Alvarez depart before the campaign draws to a close.