Julian Alvarez's future at Atletico Madrid grew murkier on Friday as the Argentina international skipped training for a third consecutive day, leaving his next destination shrouded in uncertainty just as the transfer window edges toward its close.
The 26-year-old forward has been the subject of intense speculation after reportedly pushing for a move to Barcelona, an idea Atletico's hierarchy has flatly rejected. Some reports in Spain suggested Alvarez might return to the training ground on Friday, though even then he would likely train apart from his teammates. He is not expected to be included in Atletico's squad for Saturday's LaLiga trip to Sevilla, with the club understood to have set a deadline of Friday evening for clarity on offers.
Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has been vocal throughout the saga, insisting the club's preference is for Alvarez to stay while acknowledging the situation has become untenable for the player. "Our intention and my personal dream is for him to stay with us, to remain at Atletico," Gil Marin said. "To compete amongst the greats, you need great players, and Julian is one. If he believes that staying at Atletico is no longer feasible, we will look for an alternative, but it will never, ever be Barcelona."
Gil Marin also spoke sympathetically about the toll the episode has taken on Alvarez personally. "Julian is really struggling," he said. "There have been people who have set out to deceive and confuse him, and I'm very sorry about that. I know him and we've been working with him for some time. He's a great professional and footballer, but he's very confused and going through a very difficult time, both personally and professionally."
Atletico's board has also issued a formal statement reaffirming its refusal to engage with Barcelona over any potential transfer, describing the Catalan club's approach as failing to meet standards of professionalism, ethics and respect. The statement stressed there would be "zero consideration" of a move to Barcelona and expressed hope that Alvarez would refocus on helping Atletico achieve its objectives this season.
With Barcelona effectively out of the running, attention has turned firmly to Arsenal, who have long viewed Alvarez as their primary attacking target this summer. The Gunners have continued to monitor developments from a distance and are understood to have kept lines of communication open with Atletico, who could reportedly be persuaded to sell to Arsenal under the right financial terms. Manager Mikel Arteta is said to have been aware for some time that Alvarez's preference was a move to Barcelona, but has also recognised the financial hurdles that deal always faced.
Despite Arsenal's readiness to act, Alvarez himself has yet to give any indication that he would sanction a move to north London, and his camp has not provided the encouragement Arsenal have been waiting for. That leaves the north London club in a holding pattern, ready to pounce should the player's stance shift before the window shuts on Tuesday night.
With time running short, all parties face a tense few days. Atletico want resolution, Arsenal want a signal, and Alvarez, by his own club's admission, appears caught in the middle of a saga that has taken a personal as well as professional toll.
Based on reporting from The Independent and Standard Sport.