Julian Alvarez Rejects Mikel Arteta's Call Amid Atletico Madrid Exit Drama and Barcelona Pursuit

Julian Alvarez has reportedly declined a call from Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, signaling his resistance to rejoining the Premier League. The Argentine forward, currently at Atletico Madrid, is pressing for a transfer to Barcelona instead.

Alvarez Stalls Atletico Transfer Plans

As the summer transfer window nears its end, Alvarez remains caught in limbo at Atletico Madrid. Despite Arsenal's clear interest, he is unwilling to return to England. This puts Atletico in a tough spot; they want to offload him to raise funds for new players but face a player unwilling to cooperate.

The club aims to avoid keeping an unhappy striker on their roster, but their preferred option—a move to the Premier League—is stalling.

Ignoring Arteta's Attempt to Reach Out

Spanish reports have shed light on how far Alvarez is going to resist Arsenal. On the show El Chiringuito, journalist Josep Pedrerol shared that Alvarez did not pick up a phone call from Arteta, refusing to engage in talks with the Gunners.

"They tell me that the other day, Julian Alvarez did not want to answer Mikel Arteta's phone call," Pedrerol said. "Arteta called Julian and he didn’t pick up because Julian Alvarez does not want to return to the Premier League, and Atletico need him to go to the Premier League because they don’t want an unhappy player and need money to sign."

Barcelona Wait for Atletico to Agree to Domestic Transfer

With Arsenal out of the picture for now, Barcelona watch closely, hoping Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin will agree to a deal within Spain. This standoff has sparked tensions between the rival clubs.

Pedrerol also highlighted Atletico president Enrique Cerezo's unusual involvement, noting he has openly criticized Barcelona during the negotiations, surprising many.

"Atletico needs him to move there. They don’t want an unhappy player on the roster and they need the funds for new signings. Atletico is in a difficult spot, and Barcelona is hoping Gil Marín will eventually swallow his pride and allow Julián to join Barca, as it is the only real option available," Pedrerol explained.

"Barca has been very surprised to see Enrique Cerezo get involved in the fray. Cerezo usually avoids taking a stand, yet he has been openly criticizing Barca in several statements - an attitude that has caught the club off guard. If the club’s best interests were the priority, he would be sold."

Atletico Faces Pressure to Finalize Deal

With the transfer deadline looming, Atletico Madrid must resolve this difficult situation quickly. Their bargaining power diminishes as time runs out. They face a choice: accept a deal with a direct competitor or reintegrate an unhappy player into their squad, which poses challenges for coach Diego Simeone.