Atletico Madrid have underlined their determination to keep hold of Julian Alvarez amid increasing transfer interest from Arsenal.
The Gunners are long-term admirers of the Argentina international who enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a sensational free-kick in his side’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final win over Barcelona at Camp Nou last night.
Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City two years ago having grown tired of playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland for the Premier League giants.
The 26-year-old has blossomed into the complete centre forward under Diego Simeone’s tutelage and another stellar display last night has put Atletico on the brink of a semi-final place where they are, as things stand, likely to face the club that covet Alvarez most.
Arsenal spent heavily last summer on bolstering their attack and although Viktor Gyokeres is on course to register 20 goals in all competitions, he has failed to fully convince.
Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, looks set to be deemed surplus to requirements while Kai Havertz’s durability remains an issue and, in any case, most of his appearances since his comeback from a knee injury have come in an attacking midfield role.
It would likely take a club-record fee for Arsenal to be able to prise Alvarez from Atletico, especially given the former City star still has four years to run on his current deal, a fact Atletico president Enrique Cerezo was only too keen to point out before the landmark win over Barcelona.
After the journalist replied that Alvarez is under contract with Atletico and that he himself is ‘under contract with God,’ Cerezo continued: ‘You’re under contract with life.
‘Don’t take it seriously, because there are things you shouldn’t take seriously. If a player has a contract and still has years left, tell me what could happen.
‘Now imagine I’m God and I’ll decide when he has to leave.’
Atletico’s immediate focus centre on finishing the season strongly and maintaining the significant advantage they established heading into next week’s second leg against Barcelona.
Alvarez’s stunning set-piece goal was the highlight of a stunning victory and compounded the home side’s misery following the sending off of Pau Cubarsi.
‘Yesterday we practiced free kicks,’ revealed Alvarez. ‘I took several, maybe five or six, and did not score any.
‘Today was the day. It came at a key moment, so I’m very happy’