Arsenal only likely exit for Alvarez as striker skips training

What the report says

Julian Alvarez has not reported for Atletico Madrid training since being told privately that the club will not sell him to Barcelona, according to BBC Sport Football. The 26-year-old Argentina striker has also missed two straight sessions while citing illness, as Atletico have publicly repeated that they will not negotiate a move with the Catalan side.

BBC Sport reports that Atletico are, however, open to selling Alvarez to Arsenal and have already held direct talks with the Premier League champions over a potential transfer. Club director Mateu Alemany was understood to have met Arsenal officials in London last week, with Atletico said to be seeking a fee of 150m euros (£128m).

The report says Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to sign Alvarez this month, but the forward’s preference for Barcelona has complicated the pursuit. Despite that, discussions between Atletico and Arsenal over a possible club-to-club deal are described as positive, and a move could progress quickly if Alvarez gives Arsenal permission to move ahead.

The situation matters because it has become one of the summer’s most high-profile transfer disputes, involving three major European clubs. More broadly, transfer negotiations often hinge on both club agreement and the player’s personal choice, and in this case Barcelona’s interest appears to have been blocked by Atletico’s firm stance.