Atletico blocks Alvarez, but a winter swap with Arsenal looms

Julian Alvarez remains with the Spanish club Atletico Madrid despite his desire to move to FC Barcelona, because the club blocked the transfer in the summer. The transfer saga between the two La Liga rivals sparked a public war of words on social media.

The end of the transfer story was that Alvarez did not leave the Rojiblancos and was not allowed to join his desired club Barcelona. He then felt insulted and was partially benched by coach Diego Simeone, apparently as a lesson.

Regular booing concerts from his own fans further dampened the Argentine international's mood. The scenes highlighted how much he wanted Barcelona and how unhappy he felt at Atletico.

But already now in winter, a surprising way out of the mess is emerging. According to Spanish media, a real blockbuster swap could take place in the upcoming transfer window.

Blockbuster swap: Zubimendi for Alvarez

As a counterpart to Alvarez, the Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi from FC Arsenal is mentioned, who currently finds little playing time at the Gunners under his compatriot Mikel Arteta. Arteta is reportedly not opposed to swapping Zubimendi for Alvarez, killing two birds with one stone.

Arsenal interest and possible return to England

Arsenal already showed interest in Alvarez in the summer and was actively involved in courting FC Barcelona. Nevertheless, the English team received little attention because the Argentine was determined to go to Barça and rejected a move to England.

Atletico boss Gil Marín recently reiterated that a move to FC Barcelona is still not an option. Therefore, Alvarez could now consider a return to the Premier League to rediscover his joy in the profession.

The striker already played in England from 2022 to 2024 and made 67 appearances for Manchester City in the English top flight.

However, for a possible deal Arsenal would have to put far more than Zubimendi on the table. Atletico is said to have demanded a release fee of €150 million for the Argentine in the summer, while Zubimendi's market value is around €65 million.