Julian Alvarez responds to Man City offer as transfer stance made amid Arsenal interest

Julian Alvarez, currently locked into his contract with Atletico Madrid, has rejected an approach from former side Manchester City, and given Arsenal further insight into the likelihood of a Premier League return.

The Argentine made headlines as Atletico Madrid kicked off their 2026-27 La Liga season, with Alvarez captured on camera looking seemingly upset post-match.

The 26-year-old is one of Arsenal’s primary targets this summer; however, Alvarez is reportedly dreaming of a move to La Liga rival Barcelona, which Atletico Madrid are actively blocking.

The 2025-26 Spanish top-flight champions, also winners of La Liga in 2024-25, had an offer valued at €100 million rejected previously in the transfer window.

The club have claimed on multiple occasions that they will not engage in business with the Catalan club, reaffirming their ‘0%’ stance earlier this week.

Manchester City, who sold Alvarez to the La Liga side in 2024 for over £80 million, recently swooped in with an approach, providing a pathway for the Atletico Madrid man to escape his confines. This was reported on Friday by Marca.

However, according to a report from Cadena SER, and relayed by the Metro, the 26-year-old has “categorically rejected” that approach, before an offer was even made. Arsenal’s hopes remain likely just as dead in the water, with an unexpected issue preventing his Premier League return.

Alvarez rules out Premier League return for unexpected reason, wants Barcelona

The Atletico Madrid man’s position all summer has been, and remains against a return to the Premier League, despite alluring approaches from the Gunners.

However, noise has ramped up recently surrounding Alvarez’s future, with many deeming his strongest chance of an exit to arrive through Arsenal. The report also states that Alvarez has turned down the North London club on 'numerous occasions' this summer.

Mikel Arteta’s men won the 2025-26 Premier League in their fourth successive title race, and finished runners-up in the Champions League final to back-to-back champions PSG.

The Gunners have reinforced significantly this transfer window, but a rocky start to Arsenal life for talisman Viktor Gyokeres has left them searching for a central goalscoring figure.

Perhaps unexpectedly, Alvarez’s refusal to return to the Premier League isn’t borne entirely out of commitment to Barcelona, and to keep his hopes of joining the Catalan club alive.

Instead, the 26-year-old is reportedly aware of visa regulation difficulties that would make visiting family members encounter problems en-route to the UK; in Spain, those issues are not present.

The feud between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid regarding Alvarez’s future has been public in nature, with the Catalan club’s president, Joan Laporta, making reference to the 26-year-old earlier this week.

“The Barca offer is still valid in case they want to sell him,” said Laporta. “It appears the player wants to come to Barca, so we reiterate our interest and our intention, with all due respect to Atletico Madrid.”

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid’s chief executive, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, accused Barcelona of dishonesty and claimed the club were “repulsed” by their approach.

“The truth is that it outrages us even more. We are repulsed by the dishonesty, the lack of ethics, transparency and professionalism,” stated Marin.

“We can only insist that we will not negotiate with Barcelona under any circumstances,” he concluded, speaking earlier this week in the aftermath of Laporta’s comments.

Alvarez, who Arsenal are willing to sacrifice two first-team stars to see join them, was confirmed to be absent by manager Diego Simeone for this weekend’s La Liga clash against Sevilla, as his future at the club remains uncertain.