Julian Alvarez has turned down a late attempt by Manchester City to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium, according to reports in Spain, with the Argentina international instead holding out for a switch to Barcelona.
The 26-year-old’s future remains unresolved after he failed to report for Atletico Madrid training for a third straight day, deepening a saga that has gripped the closing days of the summer transfer window.
City, now under the management of Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of last season, had been monitoring the situation as Arsenal continued their pursuit of the forward.
Sensing an opportunity to bring back a player who spent two productive seasons in Manchester before his 2024 move to the Spanish capital, City reportedly explored the possibility of a second spell for Alvarez.
But according to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, as relayed by CaughtOffside, the player rebuffed the approach because he has no desire to return to the Premier League.
Alvarez has instead prioritised a move to Barcelona throughout the saga, with the Catalan club needing reinforcements up front after Robert Lewandowski’s exit left a gap in Hansi Flick’s attacking options.
His refusal to engage with Atletico’s training sessions this week has been widely read as a signal of his determination to force through a departure before Monday’s deadline.
Arsenal chase continues despite City snub
While City’s rejection removes one Premier League suitor from the picture, it does little to clarify Arsenal’s own chances of landing the forward.
The Gunners have been strongly linked with a move worth close to €150m, with Mikel Arteta keen to add firepower to a squad already containing Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz.
Diego Simeone, Atletico’s head coach, has publicly commented on the saga in recent days, though the Argentine’s stance on any exit remains complicated by the player’s continued absence from the training pitch.
Alvarez’s numbers make clear why he remains such a coveted figure. Since breaking through as a teenager in Argentina, he has scored 154 goals in his career, with 139 of those coming in 332 appearances at club level, and a further 15 in 59 caps for his country.
He was a key contributor during City’s treble-winning campaign under Guardiola before his transfer to Atletico, and has continued to perform well in Spain.
Whether he strengthens City or Arsenal remains debatable
Even so, question marks persist over how much of an upgrade Alvarez would represent at either English club.
At City, he never fully established himself as first-choice ahead of Erling Haaland during his time at the club, a hierarchy that looks unlikely to change given the Norwegian’s continued dominance in front of goal.
At Arsenal, meanwhile, Gyokeres actually outscored Alvarez last season, netting 21 goals in all competitions to the Argentine’s 20, while Havertz has also rediscovered his form since returning from injury.
For Barcelona, the logic is more straightforward. With Lewandowski gone and a central striking role up for grabs, Alvarez represents a proven goalscorer who could slot immediately into Flick’s front line.
That appears to be the destination he is holding out for, regardless of the financial packages being offered by his Premier League suitors.
