Julian Alvarez has reaffirmed his intention to join Barcelona, despite interest from Arsenal and a recent attempt by Atletico Madrid to retain his services, according to reports from Spain. The 26-year-old forward has been in prolific form since moving to Atletico from Manchester City in 2024, registering 49 goals in 106 appearances for Diego Simeone’s team.
Arsenal have been linked with Alvarez, with BBC Sport understanding the club are admirers of the Argentinian international, while The Athletic reports Barcelona consider him a priority target. However, Atletico have been resolute in their stance, recently rejecting a €150 million (£130m) bid from Real Madrid for Alvarez earlier in June.
Speaking after Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria at the World Cup, Alvarez publicly stated his desire to leave Atletico. Though he did not explicitly name Barcelona, widespread reports indicate Hansi Flick’s side are his preferred destination over a move to the Premier League with Arsenal. “I spoke with the people at [Atletico] I needed to speak with, and the best thing for everyone is a transfer,” Alvarez said, as quoted by BBC Sport. “I want to fulfil my dream. It's not the time to talk about this, but I also can't hide it. I try to be an honest person.”
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports Alvarez has now informed Atletico’s hierarchy of his unwavering commitment to joining Barcelona. Former Argentina striker Javier Saviola has also backed Alvarez’s potential move to the Catalan club, believing Barcelona’s possession-based style of play would suit his skillset. Saviola described Alvarez as a “very complete” player, noting his technical ability alongside his goalscoring prowess, and stated Barcelona is the “ideal team” for him.
Alvarez will continue to focus on international duty with Argentina, hoping to progress to the last 16 of the World Cup when they face Cape Verde on July 3rd. Meanwhile, Arsenal are pursuing other midfield targets, reportedly preparing a second bid for Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes after an initial offer of less than €69 million (£60m) was rejected, according to the Daily Mail. The Gunners are also reportedly monitoring Guimaraes’ Newcastle teammate Sandro Tonali and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi as they look to strengthen their midfield options for the 2026-27 season.
