24/08/2026
Barcelona Still Hopeful of Julian Alvarez Deal as Arsenal Continue to Monitor Situation
Barcelona are refusing to give up on their pursuit of Atlético Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, with the Catalan club still hopeful they can find a way to complete a deal before the summer transfer window closes.
The biggest challenge for Barcelona remains creating the financial room required to make such a major signing. With the final days of the window approaching, player sales could become crucial as Barcelona look to raise funds and free up space within their squad.
Alvarez has made his desire to leave Atletico Madrid known, and Barcelona remain his preferred destination. However, Atletico have maintained a strong position throughout the summer and have repeatedly insisted they do not want to sell the Argentine forward, particularly to a direct La Liga rival.
The situation became even more interesting over the weekend when Alvarez was booed by sections of the AtlĂ©tico support during their 2-2 draw with Villarreal. Despite the growing tension surrounding his future, Atleticoâs position remains a major obstacle to any potential move.
Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to monitor developments closely. The Premier League champions have maintained their interest in Alvarez throughout the summer and appear prepared to keep the door open should an opportunity emerge before the September 1 deadline.
For Arsenal, patience could be important. Barcelona may currently have the advantage because of the playerâs preference to remain in Spain, but their financial situation means completing such an expensive transfer is far from straightforward. If Barcelona cannot raise the necessary funds or reach an agreement with AtlĂ©tico, Arsenal could suddenly find themselves with an opportunity.
That leaves three different forces shaping the final days of this transfer story: Barcelona have the playerâs preference, Arsenal have the financial capacity to remain involved, while Atletico Madrid ultimately control whether Alvarez leaves.
With just over a week remaining in the transfer window, this could become one of the biggest stories to watch. Barcelona are still pushing, Arsenal are still waiting, and Atletico are still holding firm.
It is going to be a very interesting final week in the transfer market.