The Julian Alvarez to Barcelona transfer story has taken another major turn, with Atletico Madrid now open to selling the Argentine striker this summer.
However, according to El Chiringuito TV, there is one outcome Atletico are determined to avoid: watching Alvarez join Barcelona.
The 26-year-old remains keen to leave Atletico and believes the club could eventually be forced to negotiate his departure.
Barcelona are his preferred destination, but Atletico’s resistance to strengthening a direct La Liga rival remains the biggest obstacle standing in the way of a deal.
The situation has also attracted interest from Arsenal, who continue to stay in contact with the player’s camp.
Yet Alvarez has personally made his position clear to Mikel Arteta, informing the Arsenal manager that he does not want to move to North London.
That leaves Atletico with a difficult problem. They may be willing to sanction a Julian Alvarez transfer, but their preferred solution does not include Barcelona.
Atletico could sell Alvarez, but not at Barcelona
The aforementioned information states that Atletico’s current plan is to sell Alvarez, while making sure he does not end up at Barcelona.
The player’s stance, though, could make that difficult, as Alvarez sees Barcelona as the destination he would prefer for the next stage of his career.
Arsenal remain an option from Atletico’s point of view, but the Argentine has no interest in joining Arteta’s side.
This creates a clear stand-off between the club and the player.
Atletico would rather direct Alvarez towards another destination, while the striker is expected to push for a move to Barcelona.
Furthermore, there is also growing frustration on Alvarez’s side. The Argentine feels disappointed by how events have unfolded and has been unhappy with his current situation.
Julian Alvarez is set for a crucial meeting with Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
If the relationship continues to deteriorate, Atletico could soon face an even more complicated situation.
Crucial meeting to decide Alvarez’s future
A meeting between Julian Alvarez and Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is expected to take place in the coming days after being delayed on several occasions.
Alvarez plans to use the talks to seek clarity over his future and push Atletico towards opening negotiations with Barcelona.
He will aim to convince the club that a deal with the Catalan giants is the best solution.
This particular conversation could therefore determine the next step. If Atletico soften their stance, negotiations with Barcelona could finally begin.
However, if they continue to block a move, Alvarez may have to decide how strongly he is willing to push for his preferred destination.