Julian Alvarez Rejects Mikel Arteta’s Call as Atletico Madrid Striker Pushes for Barcelona Transfer
Julian Alvarez has reportedly ignored a call from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, signaling his clear reluctance to return to the Premier League. The Atletico Madrid forward is eager to leave, but only if it means moving to Barcelona, who remain patient as negotiations unfold.
Alvarez Faces Uncertain Future at Atletico
The Argentine attacker is stuck in limbo with Atletico Madrid as the summer transfer window closes in. Despite Arsenal showing strong interest, Alvarez does not want to rejoin the Premier League. This refusal complicates things for Atletico, who need to offload the striker to fund new signings.
The club is determined to avoid having an unhappy player on their books and initially hoped to make a profitable sale to England. Now that option looks blocked, leaving Atletico scrambling for alternatives.
Striker Refuses to Take Arteta’s Call
Reports from Spain reveal just how firm Alvarez’s stance is. On the show El Chiringuito, Josep Pedrerol shared that Alvarez deliberately ignored a call from Mikel Arteta. According to Pedrerol, the player did not want to engage with Arsenal because he wants no part of a Premier League return, even though Atletico insists he must move to generate funds.
"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 there because they don’t want an unhappy player and need money to sign."
Barcelona Wait Patiently for Atletico to Agree
With the Premier League route closed off, Barcelona are closely watching the developments. The Catalan club hopes Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin will eventually accept a domestic transfer, which is currently the most viable option.
The saga has already caused tension between the clubs. Pedrerol noted surprise at Atletico president Enrique Cerezo’s unusually public criticism of Barca during these talks, an intervention catching the Catalans off guard.
"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."
Pressure Builds on Atletico to Reach a Deal
As the deadline nears, Atletico Madrid faces mounting pressure to resolve this tricky transfer situation. Their bargaining power diminishes with time, pushing them closer to either accepting a deal with Barcelona or risk reintegrating a frustrated Alvarez into the squad.
If no agreement emerges with Barca or another unexpected buyer appears, coach Diego Simeone might have to manage a challenging dressing room dynamic with a discontented star still on the team.
- Player: Julian Alvarez
- Current Club: Atletico Madrid
- Interested Clubs: Arsenal (Premier League), Barcelona (La Liga)
- Manager Calling: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
- Atletico CEO: Miguel Angel Gil Marin
- Atletico President: Enrique Cerezo
- Transfer Window Status: Closing soon
