Arsenal have been presented again as one of the few clubs capable of offering Julián Álvarez a way out. This has been described as a “very complicated” situation at Atlético Madrid.
Speaking on Spanish media, as picked up by COPE, journalist Guille Uzquiano argued the striker’s own public comments about wanting to leave have dramatically changed the landscape. In other words, these comments have affected his own future.
“A very complicated position”
Uzquiano believes Álvarez crossed a line during the World Cup when he openly admitted he wanted a transfer.
“He exposed himself a lot during the World Cup by saying he wanted to leave,” Uzquiano said. “Until then, they were only rumours. Now he’ll have to say something when he returns to training.”
The journalist compared the situation with Vinícius Júnior, arguing the two cases are fundamentally different. While Vinícius has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid, Uzquiano pointed out the Brazilian has never publicly declared he wants to leave.
“For me, that’s what changes everything,” he said. “Vinícius has never said he wants to leave. Julián has.”
Uzquiano argued the Atlético Madrid forward now faces an uphill battle if a move fails to materialise.
“The player has publicly said he wants to leave, and it will be very difficult for him to win the fans back.”
According to the Spanish journalist, that public declaration has left both the player and Atlético in a far more delicate position. This is much different from if the speculation had remained behind the scenes.
Arsenal named as possible solution
Uzquiano also explained why Atlético have taken such a firm stance despite interest from several clubs.
He pointed to the public approaches already made by Barcelona and Real Madrid, noting that Barça president Joan Laporta has openly acknowledged his club’s attempts to sign Álvarez.
“In Real Madrid’s case there’s a fax, a tweet, and in Barcelona’s case their president has acknowledged it,” he said.
Despite that, Uzquiano stressed Atlético are refusing to negotiate below the player’s €500m (£426m) release clause.
“The club have been inflexible,” he said. “Not in the sense of asking for a little more. No, no, no. For less than €500m, the release clause, he won’t leave.”
That, in Uzquiano’s view, leaves Álvarez with very few realistic outcomes. He argued the striker either finds a club willing to spend an extraordinary amount of money. Specifically, he named Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. Otherwise, Álvarez returns to an Atlético side after publicly declaring his desire to leave.
For Uzquiano, that would leave the Argentina international “in a very complicated position”, making the coming weeks significant not only for Arsenal’s transfer plans, but also for how Álvarez’s relationship with Atlético develops if no agreement is reached.
