Alvarez Snubs Arteta

Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez has reportedly rejected advances from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, reaffirming that Barcelona is his sole desired destination.

Despite Atletico’s firm stance that the Argentine FIFA World Cup winner is not for sale, transfer speculation continues to intensify as the window draws to a close.

Arteta personally phoned the 26-year-old striker to win him over to Arsenal’s long-term project and offer him a starring role at Emirates Stadium. However, reports indicate that Alvarez either ignored the call or explicitly reiterated his preference for the Catalan giants.

The pursuit represents a rare departure from Arteta’s established transfer policy, which prioritises players who demonstrate an immediate, unprompted desire to represent the Gunners. While Arsenal possess the financial resources to negotiate a deal with Atletico, Alvarez’s reluctance mirrors previous failed pursuits of targets like Dusan Vlahovic and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Barcelona remains hopeful that Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin will soften his stance before the deadline. Meanwhile, with Alvarez committed to securing a move to Camp Nou, Arsenal faces pressure to pivot towards alternative attacking targets to reinforce their frontline.

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