“Atletico are not bluffing. They are not going to go back on their word,” says one of Caughtoffside’s sources. What is not a bluff is that Atletico refuse to sell Julian Alvarez to Barcelona. For Arsenal, it is now four days of intense work – and waiting.
Because Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have had Alverez as one of the top targets for a long time. The English media source continues with: “And if I am in Atletico’s position now, I actively encourage Julian Alvarez to accept an offer from Arsenal.”
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Alvarez has been in a clinch with Atletico management since his statement during the World Cup that he wanted to leave the club and go to Barcelona. Arsenal are ready to pay what it takes to secure the versatile attacker with the x-factor, according to transfer jojurnalist Romano. Now it is the 26-year-old who has to convince himself to move back to winter football on the ball island.
“He will think he can’t have another year of this,” said one source. “With every hour that passes, the interest from Arsenal seems more and more tempting,” another of Caughtoffside’s sources said.
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With still four days left in the transfer window, Arsenal have their option – if Alvarez chooses the reigning Premier League champions over his desire for his family to live in Spain.
We’ve seen what an attacking force Alvarez was in the City shirt in the Premier League. This could be the one reinforcement that makes Martin Ødegaard’s Arsenal an even bigger favourite to take the PL title.
