Atletico Madrid set €150m price tag for Julian Alvarez
The Madrid club is prepared to consider an offer from Arsenal for the Argentine forward but refuses to negotiate with Barcelona.
Хуліан Альварес, gettyimages
Madrid-based Atletico Madrid have set the financial terms under which they are willing to part ways with striker Julian Alvarez. Reports suggest the club would only consider offers in the region of €150 million to sanction a departure.
Currently, the club views Arsenal as the only realistic destination for such a high-profile transfer. In contrast, they have no intention of entering negotiations with Barcelona, despite the Argentine forward's previous preference for a move to the Catalan side.
The situation remains complicated, as there is currently no official €150 million bid on the table from the London club. Furthermore, Barcelona, the player's preferred destination, lacks the financial capacity to meet such an aggressive valuation.
Julian is an essential part of our squad, and I expect him to give his maximum on the pitch. Diego Simeone
The Argentine enjoyed a productive campaign last season, featuring in 52 matches across all competitions, where he contributed 20 goals and 10 assists. Head coach Diego Simeone has publicly defended the player following negative crowd reactions during the 2-2 draw against Villarreal.