The Sun: Atletico de Madrid ready to sell Julian Alvarez to Arsenal as striker holds out for Barcelona

The Sun reports that Atletico de Madrid have agreed to allow Julian Alvarez to join Arsenal, but the Argentina international is resisting the proposed move because he wants to sign for Barcelona.

Alvarez’s future remains uncertain, with the forward considering whether to leave Atletico or continue with the club. Barcelona and Arsenal have both shown interest in signing him, while the player is understood to favour a move to the Catalan side.

The situation has created an obstacle for Atletico, who have reportedly agreed to the possibility of transferring Alvarez to Arsenal but are facing opposition from the striker himself. His preference for Barcelona means the proposed deal is not yet straightforward.

Atletico had previously rejected the idea of selling Alvarez to Barcelona. The club did not want to strengthen one of its direct competitors, making a move to Arsenal more acceptable from its perspective.

However, Atletico are aware of the difficulty involved in replacing Alvarez if he leaves, particularly with the transfer window close to shutting. That concern adds further uncertainty to negotiations over the forward’s future.

Alvarez has also been absent from Atletico’s opening league match against Malaga, in which the Madrid club secured a 2-0 victory. The striker’s omission comes during a period of instability surrounding his position at the club.

The 25-year-old joined Atletico from Manchester City in the summer of 2024. His contract with the Spanish club runs until the summer of 2030.

Since arriving in Madrid, Alvarez has made 106 appearances for Atletico, scoring 49 goals and providing 17 assists. Those figures underline the scale of the potential loss should the club approve his departure.

For now, Arsenal are the club reportedly closest to securing Atletico’s agreement, while Alvarez’s preference continues to point towards Barcelona. The Spanish side must therefore weigh the financial and sporting consequences of selling a key forward against the player’s wishes and the limited time available to find a replacement.