Atletico Madrid’s board has formally ruled out selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona, and Fabrizio Romano says that leaves the striker with three ways this saga can end, one of which is Arsenal. But the latest reporting on Alvarez’s own stance suggests his preference for Barcelona hasn’t actually moved, even with that door now closed.
No fee is confirmed anywhere in this development. Romano says only that Arsenal are ready to pay what it takes to get a deal done, but that any agreement still depends on Alvarez himself and would require genuine negotiation with Atletico.
Atletico Madrid’s Furious Statement On Julian Alvarez
The update stems from an official statement published on Atletico Madrid’s club website, and Romano’s follow-up assessment on his YouTube channel. Atletico’s board said it unanimously backed the club’s decision not to negotiate Alvarez’s transfer to Barcelona, framing the stance as a matter of principle rather than pure valuation.
The statement was unusually pointed. “The player is being portrayed as a victim, but the only victim of the Julian case is us,” the club said. “They have harmed us economically and socially. There is zero per cent chance of selling him to Barca. This is not about money, it’s about dignity.” Atletico added that a “campaign of many lies and half-truths” had been created, and that Atletico were the only ones paying the price for it.
The club also confirmed there have been no negotiations with Barcelona over Alvarez, and there will be none, saying it is convinced the player will understand the decision and refocus on helping Atletico achieve its objectives.
Why Julian Alvarez Still Isn’t Turning To Arsenal
The primary source is clear that Alvarez has made his own preference known throughout this saga: he wants Barcelona above any other destination, a stance covered in detail in Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez and his previous contact with Mikel Arteta. Atletico’s statement doesn’t change that preference, it simply removes the one route by which it could be satisfied this summer.
More tellingly, the latest reporting suggests his resistance to Arsenal specifically isn’t a football decision at all. According to reports, Alvarez has told those close to him it’s “Barcelona or nothing,” and that his reluctance to join Arsenal is a personal and family matter rather than anything to do with the club or the Premier League itself, he simply doesn’t want to move to England.
Romano laid out three scenarios now open to the player. The first is that Alvarez simply continues at Atletico. The second is that he stays at Atletico while still harbouring hopes of Barcelona at a later point, whether that is January or next summer. The third is Arsenal.
“Arsenal remain there, Arsenal remain key,” Romano said. “Arsenal are working on the Julian Alvarez deal and I maintain my position: Arsenal are ready to pay. If tomorrow morning, tonight, tomorrow, whenever it is Julian Alvarez’s camp call Arsenal and say ‘we are ready’, Arsenal will pay what it takes to get the deal done with Atletico Madrid.”
Barcelona And Real Madrid Both Blocked, Arsenal Still Waiting
The contrast between suitors is now stark. Barcelona has been named and specifically excluded by Atletico’s own statement. Real Madrid also saw an earlier €150m bid for Alvarez rejected outright, a second major rival already eliminated from the race entirely.
Arsenal face no such barrier from Atletico’s side. Romano says the Gunners “don’t see any issues, any problem on the club to club” front, adding that a fee would be expensive and require negotiation rather than being agreed instantly. Reports suggest Arsenal are prepared to surpass their existing club-record fee, the £105m paid for Declan Rice, to land Alvarez if his stance shifts. Alvarez has not been the club’s only attacking consideration this summer either, with Arteta’s side also having monitored Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers, and continuing to explore other forward options as covered in Arsenal’s discussions over a move for Victor Osimhen.
Where The Julian Alvarez Saga Stands Now
Alvarez was booed during a substitute appearance in Atletico’s draw with Villarreal and missed training on Wednesday, which the club attributed to illness, signs of just how strained the relationship has become even as he stays put for now.
Atletico’s statement is the most concrete thing to happen in this saga all summer, and it closes off Barcelona and Real Madrid on the club’s own stated terms. That makes Arsenal’s route more credible on paper than it has been at any point this window, given Romano’s insistence that the Gunners are willing to meet Atletico’s asking price and see no club-to-club obstacle.
But credible is not the same as close. The decisive factor remains Alvarez’s own decision, and the latest reporting suggests that decision still leans toward staying in Spain rather than crossing the Channel. With the transfer window closing on September 1, there is very little time left for that stance to change.
