Julián Álvarez must decide his future at Atlético Madrid this weekend, with Arsenal as the main exit alternative. The transfer market in Spain and England closes at midnight on Tuesday, putting pressure on the 26-year-old Argentine World Cup winner to make a quick decision, as reported by Clarín Deportes.
What is Julián Álvarez's current situation?
Julián Álvarez returned to action last Sunday against Villarreal, playing 33 minutes and being whistled by the red-and-white fans when he entered the pitch. Previously, an indisposition kept him out of training on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, also causing him to miss the match against Sevilla. The player has trained individually at the Majadahonda facilities with a physical trainer. Manager Diego Simeone stated: "Desde el momento que vuelva a entrenar Julián con nosotros, le daremos todo lo que le dimos siempre" (From the moment Julián returns to train with us, we will give him everything we always gave him). The forward's future is being decided as Atlético sits sixth in La Liga, with 4 points from two games and a +4 goal difference.
Why is Barcelona no longer an option?
The door to a transfer to Barcelona is definitively closed. Atlético Madrid's board, with chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín at the helm, unanimously supports the position of not selling Julián Álvarez to the Catalan club. Gil Marín emphasized the club's philosophy by saying: "Para competir con los grandes hacen falta jugadores grandes" (To compete with the greats, you need great players). Atlético paid up to 95 million euros to Manchester City in 2024 to sign the forward, who has a contract until June 2030 and a release clause of 500 million. With four seasons remaining on his deal, the club values his continuity.
What does Arsenal offer and what is his market value?
If Julián Álvarez finally leaves the Metropolitano, Arsenal is shaping up as the main alternative. Negotiations could modify the initial valuation of close to 150 million euros held by the Madrid club. According to Transfermarkt, Álvarez's current market value is 120 million euros, the highest of his career. Among forwards, only Erling Haaland (220 million) and Kylian Mbappé (200 million) have a higher valuation. This valuation reflects his status as a world champion with Argentina and his potential in the Champions League, whose draw was held in Monaco.
How does this affect Atlético's squad?
The decision on Álvarez comes as the team prepares for its next league match against Athletic Club on September 5th. The Bilbao side currently sits in 19th place, offering an opportunity to gain points and close the three-point gap to leaders Alavés. However, the team faces this fixture with several key absences, as can be checked on our injuries page. Thomas Lemar, Alexander Sørloth, and Morten Hjulmand are currently sidelined.
The continuity or departure of Julián Álvarez will define Atlético's transfer window closure. His case is reminiscent of Antoine Griezmann, who returned to the club in 2021 after his stint at Barcelona and needed time to rebuild his relationship with the fans. The team, which has scored 4 goals and conceded 2 so far this season, needs to define its attack for a demanding campaign that includes the Champions League. Fans can follow the team's progress and schedule in our standings and fixtures sections. The report makes it clear that it is not defined to what extent the player is willing to continue at Atlético Madrid, so the next 96 hours will be decisive for the future of the Argentine forward.
