Arsenal given green light to sign Julian Alvarez as Atletico Madrid release scathing statement

Arsenal have become the only option in the race to sign Julian Alvarez after Atletico Madrid released a statement condemning Barcelona's actions.

Alvarez is pushing to leave Atletico Madrid in the closing days of the transfer window after accepting that he no longer has a future at the club.

The Argentine has constantly made it clear that he wants to depart the Spanish giants and make his dream move to Barcelona.

On Sunday, Alvarez was given a brutal reception from his own supporters at the Metropolitano Stadium after being introduced in the 2-2 draw against Villarreal.

The 26-year-old was met with deafening whistles from those inside the stadium when he was introduced in the 66th minute, with footage showing him looking visibly distressed on the bench.

Alvarez missed training on Wednesday after feeling unwell, and an exit is the best possible outcome for all parties, but only for the right price.

Earlier this summer, Barcelona placed a €100m (£85.7m) offer on the table for the World Cup winner, only to be instantly dismissed by their LaLiga rivals.

Real Madrid also saw an eye-watering €150m (£130m) bid rejected for the Argentine after president Florentino Perez promised supporters that he would make a bid of that amount for an unnamed "Galactico" if re-elected.

Los Blancos have since stopped pursuing the transfer, whereas Barcelona are refusing to back away, with president Joan Laporta openly saying on video that the club are standing by their "proposal" and want to "reach an agreement" with Atleti.

"We're keeping our hopes up and sticking to our plan - with all due respect to Atlético - of trying to sign him," Laporta told Barça's official media channels on Wednesday.

"We would like to reach an agreement with Atletico; we are therefore standing by our proposal, our offer to Atletico, and hopefully there will be an understanding between the two clubs.

"And we are doing this, I repeat, with the utmost respect for Atlético, the club's directors and for the club as a whole."

Atletico Madrid will not sell Julian Alvarez to Barcelona as Arsenal given green light

In response to Laporta's comments, Atletico Madrid released a statement, claiming there is a 'zero per cent' chance of them selling Alvarez to Barca.

"This is not about money, it's about dignity. The player is being victimised, but the only victim in the Julian case is us," Atletico said.

"They have harmed us economically and socially. There is a 0% chance of selling him to Barca.

"There is a campaign of many lies and half-truths. The only one paying for this is Atletico."

The big winner in this saga is Arsenal. Alvarez is Mikel Arteta's dream signing, and the Spaniard sees him as the final piece of their puzzle in an outstanding transfer window.

But the biggest problem they have is convincing the 59-cap Argentine to join the Premier League winners, as he has his heart firmly set on moving to Barca.

Arsenal would have to smash their transfer record to sign the forward, who Diego Simeone called "the best in the world" in November last year, and it appears they're willing to do so.

However, it all depends on whether that is what Alvarez wants. If it is, then the Gunners will be in for a frantic end to the transfer window with only six days until the deadline.