Arteta Signals Arsenal’s Step Back in the Race for Julián Álvarez as Barcelona Eyes Forward

Julián Álvarez, the 26-year-old Atlético Madrid forward, remains in limbo this summer. The Argentine wants to leave, and several clubs have shown interest in securing his signature. Among them, Barcelona stands out, eager to add Álvarez to their attacking lineup.

Atlético Madrid’s Stance on the Transfer

Despite Barcelona’s strong desire to bring Álvarez on board, Atlético Madrid is unwilling to let him move to the Catalan side. Instead, they prefer to see him transferred abroad rather than to a domestic rival.

Arsenal's Waning Interest

Arsenal was also considered a contender for Álvarez’s services. Early reports suggested that Arsenal planned to offer Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres as part of the deal to lower the transfer cost for Álvarez.

When asked about signing the Argentine, manager Mikel Arteta said, "I won’t talk about a player who is not from our team. I’m very happy with the team I have. Obviously, we want to improve it, and the club is working on that."

Arteta also confirmed that Gyökeres will remain with Arsenal, hinting strongly that the club has stepped back from pursuing Álvarez, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

Current Status and Barcelona’s Position

Álvarez is currently on holiday, awaiting clarity about his next destination. Barcelona still ranks him as a top priority but feels comfortable with their current attacking options, including Anthony Gordon, Adeyemi, and Bisseck. They are not rushing to finalize any move for the Argentine forward.