Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has, for now, hit the wall the club always feared. The Argentine striker has spoken directly to Mikel Arteta and told him he does not want to join, according to reporting by journalist David Ornstein cited by Sportbible.

“Alvarez has shown no indication of wanting to join at this point,” Ornstein said. “He’s spoken to Mikel Arteta and said that he doesn’t want to come.”

That leaves the Premier League champions with the money in place and no reason to spend it.

Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel, in comments carried by Football365, that Arsenal remain ready to move the moment Alvarez’s camp signal willingness: “Arsenal are ready to pay. If tomorrow morning, tonight, tomorrow, whenever it is Julian Alvarez’s camp call Arsenal and say ‘we are ready’, Arsenal will pay what it takes to get the deal done with Atletico Madrid.” The same Football365 piece cites Ben Jacobs reporting that Atletico have indicated they would consider offers in excess of £120m.

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‘Never, ever’ to Barcelona

The block is not on Arsenal’s side. Alvarez wants Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid refuse to sell him there under any circumstances.

Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin used a Movistar Plus interview after the Champions League league phase draw in Monaco to make his position public and unmovable.

“If he believes that staying at Atletico Madrid is no longer feasible, we will look for an alternative, but it will never, ever be Barcelona,” Gil Marin told the Spanish broadcaster.

The Atletico CEO also accused Barcelona of “dishonesty, the lack of ethics, transparency and professionalism”, and pledged that his club would not negotiate with the Catalans under any circumstances.

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A player caught between two clubs

Alvarez has cut a subdued figure through the standoff. He was booed off by Atletico supporters during a home match against Villarreal, missed training in the days that followed and did not feature against Sevilla.

Gil Marin himself described the striker as “completely confused” and going through a “very difficult situation, both personally and professionally”.

Atletico set Alvarez a private deadline of Friday, 28 August, to signal whether he would open the door to Arsenal or commit to staying. That window passed without a public shift in his position.

What happens if he stays

The summer transfer window closes at 11pm BST on Tuesday, 1 September, with a two-hour grace period for clubs that have lodged a deal sheet.

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Alvarez is contracted to Atletico until 2030 with a €500m release clause. Unless he changes his position in the hours that remain, no bid will land at the Metropolitano and he will start the season in Madrid.

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