Julián Álvarez has reportedly told Mikel Arteta that he does not want to join Arsenal, dealing a major blow to the Gunners' hopes of signing the Atlético Madrid striker before the transfer window closes.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic and TNT Sports, there is currently only a low chance of Álvarez moving to Arsenal, despite Atlético Madrid being willing to negotiate with the Premier League club.
Álvarez Has Told Arteta He Does Not Want to Join
Ornstein revealed that Álvarez has already spoken directly with Arteta about the possibility of moving to Arsenal.
The Argentine reportedly made his position clear to the Arsenal manager... he does not want to make the move at this stage.
That leaves Arsenal in a difficult position because, while the club is prepared to reach an agreement with Atlético, they do not want to sign a player who is unwilling to join.
“Álvarez has shown no indication of wanting to join at this point. He’s spoken to Mikel Arteta & said that he doesn’t want to come.”
Ornstein stressed that the situation could still change before the transfer window closes, but said the move is currently not developing.
Atlético Madrid Willing to Negotiate With Arsenal
The situation is particularly interesting because Atlético's position towards Arsenal is very different from their stance towards Barcelona.
Atlético have repeatedly ruled out selling Álvarez to Barcelona, with CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín insisting that the club will not negotiate with Barça.
However, Arsenal are considered an acceptable destination, and the Spanish club would be willing to reach an agreement with the Gunners if the player also agrees to the move.
This gives Arsenal an opportunity that Barcelona currently does not have.
The problem is that Álvarez's preference remains the decisive factor.
Arsenal Could Keep Their Current Attack
If Álvarez continues to reject the move, Arsenal may decide not to pursue another striker before the deadline.
Ornstein indicated that Arsenal could simply continue with their existing attacking options if they cannot convince the Argentine to join.
That would mean avoiding a major transfer fee for a player who does not want the move and instead trusting the squad already available to Arteta.
For now, Arsenal's position is therefore straightforward... they can negotiate with Atlético, but they need Álvarez to change his mind.
Barcelona Remain Álvarez's Preferred Destination
Álvarez's reluctance to join Arsenal is also consistent with the wider transfer saga.
The Argentine has repeatedly been reported as favouring Barcelona, but Atlético have made it clear that they will not sell him to the Catalan club.
That leaves Álvarez facing a difficult situation if he genuinely wants to leave Atlético.
Barcelona are his preferred destination, Atlético refuse to negotiate with Barça, and Arsenal are willing to negotiate but currently cannot convince the player.
With the transfer window approaching its final days, the situation could still change, but Arsenal's chances of signing Álvarez currently appear slim.