Alvarez linked with Arsenal — Atlético may push him to London instead of Barcelona

British media on Tuesday reported a surprising new twist in the transfer saga around Alvarez, suggesting the striker could leave Atlético Madrid not for Barcelona but for a London club. The development came on 18.08.2026 after conflicting signals from the Spanish capital.

Earlier, Atlético head coach Diego Simeone had publicly declared that the episode around Alvarez was over and that the player would remain at Atlético Madrid. Late in the afternoon, however, new information emerged indicating that the club would prefer to sell Alvarez to Arsenal rather than transfer him directly to Barcelona.

Next steps and internal talks

Atlético leadership is reportedly preparing a meeting between club president Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and Alvarez to discuss the forward's future. The meeting is expected to take place soon and could determine whether the club pursues a sale to Arsenal to avoid strengthening a domestic rival.

The situation intensified after Simeone confirmed that Alvarez will not start Atlético’s league match against Malaga. The Argentine striker has publicly expressed a desire to leave, while the club maintains it does not want to sell at this moment.

For Atlético, a transfer to Arsenal would solve the dilemma of letting Alvarez depart without directly boosting Barcelona’s attacking options. For the player, moves to London or to the Catalan capital would represent very different sporting projects and lifestyles, and the coming days should clarify which path he will take.

Photo: press material from the event