Arsenal are exploring a potential summer move for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, with sporting director Andrea Berta central to any possible approach.
Berta spent 12 years working at Atletico Madrid before moving to north London, giving him deep-rooted connections at the LaLiga club that could prove crucial.
It was Berta who negotiated Alvarez’s €95 million transfer from Manchester City to Atletico in August 2024, and he retains a close relationship with the player’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo.
Sources suggest Arsenal officials have made informal enquiries to determine whether a deal would be possible before deciding whether to formalise their interest later in the year.
Spanish publication Marca named the Gunners as Alvarez’s “strongest bidders,” with Premier League champions Liverpool also reported to hold an interest in the Argentina international.
Alvarez has a mammoth €500 million release clause in his contract, though sources in Spain indicate Atletico would demand a fee in excess of €100 million this summer if they were willing to sell at all.
The 25-year-old has been in outstanding form since joining Atletico, scoring 40 goals in 85 appearances, and his contract at the club runs until 2030.
According to ESPN, Arsenal had considered Alvarez among a number of attacking options, including Benjamin Sesko, before ultimately signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
Barcelona are also said to hold a strong interest in Alvarez, though their ongoing financial difficulties appear to complicate any pursuit of a transfer at this scale.
Any hopes of a deal appear to have been firmly played down by Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo, who made the club’s position on the matter abundantly clear.
Cerezo stated: “Julian Alvarez is an Atletico de Madrid player and will be an Atletico de Madrid player,” leaving little room for speculation about an imminent departure.
Arsenal’s need for attacking reinforcements remains a talking point after a season in which the Gunners came close to competing for the biggest honours but ultimately fell short.
With Gyokeres already secured and Alvarez seemingly out of reach for now, Mikel Arteta’s side may need to consider alternative options as they plan for the campaign ahead.
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