Julián Álvarez reportedly rejects a return to the Premier League: Barcelona remains the priority despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool
Julián Álvarez is once again at the center of one of the most important transfer questions in European football. The Argentine striker wants to leave Atlético Madrid, but according to the latest reports, his priority is not a return to England, where he previously wore the Manchester City shirt. On July 14, FootballTransfers, citing reports from Spain and information linked to Sky Sports, reported that the 26-year-old footballer does not want to live and play in the United Kingdom again and would prefer to remain in Spain. Such a development particularly affects Arsenal, which considers Álvarez one of its main candidates for strengthening the attack, while Liverpool had also previously been mentioned among the clubs interested in signing him.
However, the situation is not entirely clear-cut. The Independent reported on July 12 that Álvarez is open to the possibility of joining Arsenal, but that he would prefer to remain in Spanish football and play for Barcelona or Real Madrid. The differing reports therefore do not confirm that the striker has definitively and irrevocably rejected every possible return to the Premier League, but primarily show that England is currently not his first choice. What is repeated in almost all relevant reports is that Barcelona remains his desired destination, while Atlético Madrid does not want to facilitate a transfer to a direct La Liga rival.
Barcelona is ahead of its English competitors
Álvarez's preference for Barcelona has been shaping the entire transfer process for months. Sky Sports reported in June that the Argentine international publicly said after the World Cup match against Austria that he had discussed leaving with the people in charge at Atlético and that he believed a transfer would be the best solution for all parties. The striker did not name the club he wants to join, but several media outlets, including ESPN and Sky Sports, reported that his preference is Barcelona. Álvarez also spoke about his intention to “fulfill his dream,” which was interpreted in the Spanish football environment as a clear message to the management of the Madrid club.
Barcelona has also turned its interest into a concrete offer. Club president Joan Laporta confirmed to ESPN in early July that sporting director Deco had submitted an offer to Atlético and that it remained valid, although not indefinitely. According to the same report, the offer is estimated to be worth more than €100 million. Laporta stated that he had discussed the entire situation with Atlético chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, who told him that the club did not plan to sell the striker, primarily because it did not have a replacement ready for him.
Barcelona's interest is also linked to its long-term planning in attack. The Catalan club sees Álvarez as a player who can lead the forward line for several seasons, but also operate behind a traditional center-forward or from wide positions. His mobility, pressing ability and experience in different tactical systems fit the profile of a striker who can participate in build-up play rather than merely finish moves. Barcelona is also counting on the fact that life in Spain is more attractive to the player than moving back to England or leaving for France.
Atlético does not want to sell its most important striker
The biggest obstacle to the transfer is not a lack of interest, but Atlético's position. The Madrid club officially signed Álvarez from Manchester City in August 2024 and gave him a contract until 2030. In its official announcement at the time, Atlético emphasized his versatility, speed, technical quality and ability to link up with teammates, while media reports said the transfer could reach approximately €95 million including add-ons. Two years later, the club has no financial need to sell the player below its own valuation, nor is it under pressure because of an imminent contract expiry.
At the end of June, ESPN reported a statement from Gil Marín according to which Atlético does not want to sell Álvarez to Barcelona or any other club. The chief executive was particularly critical of the way Barcelona had publicly displayed its interest and announced the possibility of filing a complaint with FIFA over alleged contact with a player under contract. Barcelona rejected the claim that it had encouraged Álvarez's public statement and emphasized that it had submitted the offer directly to the club, which it considers a normal and permitted procedure.
Atlético can rely on an exceptionally high release clause in negotiations. Sky Sports and ESPN state that it amounts to €500 million, which effectively prevents the player from leaving unilaterally without an agreement between the clubs. Such a clause does not mean that a potential transfer would actually have to be completed for half a billion euros, but it gives Atlético a strong negotiating position. The Madrid club would reportedly prefer to do business with Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain rather than strengthen a direct rival in the domestic league, but such a scenario depends on the willingness of the player himself.
Why Arsenal is so interested
Arsenal's interest is not new and is not limited to a few summer rumors. ESPN reported as early as January that the London club was exploring the terms of a possible transfer, while Atlético coach Diego Simeone publicly confirmed in April that Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain were among the clubs pursuing the Argentine striker. In London, Álvarez is viewed as a footballer who can play in several positions, press the opposition defense, attack space and create chances for his teammates at the same time. His profile suits a team that wants to control possession but also quickly punish opponents' mistakes.
Sporting director Andrea Berta plays a particularly important role in Arsenal's interest. Before moving to London, he worked at Atlético for years and participated in the deal that brought Álvarez from Manchester City in 2024. ESPN states that Berta also knows the player's representatives, making it easier for Arsenal to gather information about the conditions under which a transfer could be possible. The Independent reported that Álvarez had long been Mikel Arteta's main attacking target and that Arsenal wanted to clarify the situation before the start of the club's pre-season preparations.
The financial gap between the two clubs remains substantial. According to The Independent, Arsenal was unwilling to go beyond approximately £90 million, while Atlético is asking for more than £100 million. These figures have not been officially confirmed, but they illustrate why negotiations have not progressed despite the interest. In addition to the transfer fee, Arsenal would have to provide a salary appropriate for a world-class player while also taking other signings and financial sustainability rules into account.
If the information that Álvarez does not want to return to the United Kingdom is accurate, Arsenal faces a problem that cannot be solved simply with a larger offer. The club may reach an agreement with Atlético, but the transfer cannot happen without the player's consent. In such a situation, Barcelona has an important advantage even if its offer does not satisfy the Madrid club, because Álvarez can reject other options and wait for the two Spanish sides to move closer to an agreement.
Liverpool has been mentioned, but there is no confirmed offer
Liverpool was also linked with Álvarez during 2026. In February, ESPN, reporting information about the transfer market, stated that Liverpool and Arsenal would like an opportunity to sign the striker, but that he would prioritize Barcelona if he left Atlético. Unlike Arsenal, whose interest has been confirmed by several sources and was also discussed by Diego Simeone, there is currently no confirmation that Liverpool has submitted an official offer or opened direct negotiations with the Madrid club.
Liverpool's position must therefore be viewed more cautiously. The Anfield club has the financial strength and sporting status required to sign a player of this profile, but simply appearing on the list of interested clubs does not mean that a transfer was close to completion. Álvarez's reported desire to remain in Spain further reduces Liverpool's chances, while Atlético would in any case demand one of the largest transfer fees of the summer window.
The message is similar for both English clubs: the reputation of the Premier League and the possibility of competing for the biggest trophies are not necessarily enough when a player has a clear personal and family preference. Álvarez has already won almost everything he could win in England, so his decision does not have to be driven exclusively by sporting ambition. The environment, lifestyle, role within the team and desire to remain in a Spanish-speaking area may be just as important as salary and the strength of the league.
His departure from Manchester City explains his current position
Álvarez joined Manchester City from River Plate and won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup over two seasons. According to official Atlético figures published when he arrived, he played 103 matches for City, scored 36 goals and provided 18 assists. Despite those successes, he often had to share playing time with Erling Haaland and play in different roles, which led him to seek a club in 2024 where he would have a more central position.
The move to Madrid gave him greater responsibility in attack. ESPN stated in early July that he had scored 49 goals in 106 appearances across all competitions since joining Atlético, including ten Champions League goals during the 2025/26 season. Sky Sports recorded a return of 20 goals and nine assists in 49 matches during the same season. Such numbers explain why Atlético rejects the idea of losing its most valuable striker without a strong financial and sporting reason.
His development in Madrid has also shown that he can be more than a finisher. Under Diego Simeone, he contributes to defensive work, drops between the lines and creates space for teammates. Such a combination of energy and technical quality is particularly sought after among Europe's leading clubs. Arsenal sees him as a striker capable of linking different phases of play, Barcelona as a potential long-term leader of its attack and Atlético as a player around whom it can build the team.
The World Cup has further delayed the outcome
The transfer story is developing alongside the 2026 World Cup, where Álvarez is representing Argentina. The Independent reported that he scored an important goal against Switzerland on July 12 and helped the national team reach the semifinals. His performances on the biggest international stage have further increased public interest, but at the same time they have made it more difficult to conduct the final club negotiations.
According to reports published on July 14, the player is expected to go on holiday after Argentina's participation in the tournament ends, while key talks with Atlético are expected only after he returns to club duties. It is therefore uncertain whether the case will be resolved quickly, regardless of Arsenal's desire to complete the deal before the start of pre-season. Barcelona must also decide how long its offer will remain open and whether it can improve the financial terms without undermining the team's other plans.
Time can work in both directions in this case. Atlético hopes that Álvarez will accept continuing his career in Madrid after his holiday, especially if Barcelona does not increase its offer. The player's camp, on the other hand, may calculate that his publicly expressed desire to leave will gradually increase the pressure on the club. Arsenal and other interested clubs are waiting to see whether an alternative opportunity will emerge, but in doing so they risk losing valuable weeks of the transfer window.
Three scenarios appear most likely
The first scenario is a transfer to Barcelona, but that requires a compromise which currently does not exist. The Catalan club must offer an amount Atlético considers high enough, while the Madrid management must accept strengthening a domestic rival. The second scenario is a move to Arsenal or another foreign club, but only if Álvarez softens his current preference for remaining in Spain. The third scenario, which several sources currently consider very realistic, is staying at Atlético for at least one more season.
The key fact remains that Álvarez is under contract until 2030 and that Atlético controls the formal part of the process. It is equally important that forcibly retaining an unhappy player can create sporting and management problems, especially when he is one of the most important members of the team. For that reason, after the World Cup both sides will have to assess whether there is a way to continue working together or whether an agreed separation would be more sensible in the long term.
For Arsenal, the latest development is a serious blow because the club is not merely looking for another striker, but for a player who could raise the level of the entire team. According to the available information, Liverpool is further away from concrete negotiations, while Barcelona, despite financial and political obstacles, remains in the best position because of the footballer's own preference. Until an official agreement is reached, however, Álvarez remains an Atlético player, and claims that he has definitively rejected the Premier League should be viewed as reports about his current priorities rather than as confirmation of a final and irreversible end to negotiations.
Sources:
- FootballTransfers – report from July 14, 2026, on Álvarez's position regarding a return to the United Kingdom and Barcelona being his priority (link)
- Sky Sports – Julián Álvarez's statements about his desire to leave, Arsenal's interest, Barcelona being his priority and Atlético's position (link)
- ESPN – confirmation of Barcelona's offer and statements by president Joan Laporta about negotiations with Atlético (link)
- ESPN – the position of Atlético chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, the contract until 2030 and the announcement of a possible complaint to FIFA (link)
- The Independent – the latest information on Arsenal's transfer attempt, the financial gap and Álvarez's preference for remaining in Spain (link)
- ESPN – an earlier report on interest from Arsenal and Liverpool and Álvarez's preference for Barcelona (link)
- Atlético de Madrid – official announcement of the transfer from Manchester City, the contract until 2030 and figures on the player's previous record (link)