Atletico Madrid send transfer message to Arsenal after Julian Alvarez bombshell

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed the club do not want to sell Julian Alvarez and admits he was ‘surprised’ by the striker’s recent comments talking up a summer transfer move.

Alvarez’s future has been the subject of intense speculation on the back of the forward’s outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Atleti, in which he scored 20 goals in 49 appearances.

Barcelona and Champions League holders PSG are believed to be expressing a strong interest Alvarez, while Premier League champions Arsenal have also been linked with the 26-year-old in recent weeks.

Recent reports emanating out of Spain claimed the Gunners had even held discussions with Atleti over a potential swap deal involving Alvarez and Viktor Gyokeres.

Alvarez himself fuelled these rumours on Monday as he made no secret of the fact he keen on the idea of departing the Metropolitano Stadium in order to fulfil a ‘dream’ elsewhere.

Asked if he had any updates on his future following Argentina’s victory over Jordan, the former Manchester City forward told ESPN: ‘Honestly, I don’t know.

‘I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about this, but I can’t hide or pretend otherwise either.

‘I try to be an honest person. I spoke with the people at the club I needed to speak with.

‘The best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream.’

However, Alvarez will be all too aware that the eye-watering €500million (£431m) release clause in his contract with Atleti puts the La Liga outfit in an extraordinarily strong position this summer.

And while some of the biggest clubs in Europe are still circling, it appears Atleti bosses are relaxed about the situation.

Asked for his reaction to Alvarez’s remarks, Atleti president Cerezo told Spanish radio station RNE: ‘It caught us by surprise and we have done what we had to do.

‘We’ve said that he is an Atletico de Madrid player and that we have no offers from anyone.

‘Even if there were offers, we do not want to sell him.’

Alvarez has racked up a total of 49 goals and 17 assists in 106 appearances for Atleti since joining the club in an £81.5m move from Manchester City back in 2024.

The Argentinian’s current contract in Madrid runs through to June 2030.

Pressed on the speculation surrounding Alvarez’s future towards the end of last season, Diego Simeone said it was only ‘normal’ that a player of such quality was being pursued by the world’s best.

‘I’m not in Julian’s head,’ Simeone told reporters before Atleti’s Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal.

‘I understand that it’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona.

‘It’s normal because he’s so good.’

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