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Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Atletico cause Alvarez PROBLEM as Man Utd star considers EXIT
Suraj Radia
- 22 Feb 2026 10:59 GMT
- 7 min read
News
Fabrizio Romano has delivered the latest developments from the football transfer market, including updates on Julian Alvarez, Joshua Zirkzee and Darwin Nunez.
Zirkzee set to assess Man Utd future
Romano gave an update on Joshua Zirkzee’s career at Manchester United after interest developed in him during the January transfer window.
Speaking on YouTube, Romano said: “Zirkzee was very high on the list of Juventus and Roma in the January transfer window. Then Roma signed another Dutch striker, Donyell Malen. He is doing fantastic. So Roma are very happy with him and they're expected to put money on the table and sign Malen on a permanent transfer in the summer from Aston Villa.
Current ETV
Joshua Zirkzee
F (C)
Man Utd
Joshua Zirkzee
F (C)
Man Utd
ETV Range
€29M - €35.5M
“So for Roma now, the Zirkzee story is quiet. Juventus—let's see what Juventus will be in the summer, Champions League football and all the other factors, but the interest in Zirkzee remains.
“I think for Zirkzee there will be movements in the summer with several clubs already showing interest with a player who is now being super professional, showing his commitment to Manchester United till the very end of the season.
“Even if he's not playing that much, Joshua is being very serious, very professional, trying to help at his best. Then at the end of the season for Zirkzee, it will be probably time to try to play more, find more game time.
“Let's see also what Man United will decide; let's see what kind of Man United it will be, keen or not, who's going to be the manager. Let's see what's going to happen with Champions League football. So, several factors, but Zirkzee could be one of the names to follow in the summer transfer window when it's about strikers."
Barcelona still interested in Eyong
Romano spoke on the future of Karl Etta Eyong after speculation linking the Levante striker with a transfer this month amid interest from Barcelona.
Romano said: “What happened is that Levante received a last-minute proposal from CSKA Moscow because the Russian market was still open a few days ago. So this week Levante received a proposal worth up to €30m for Eyong and Levante were prepared to accept to get the money and to let the player go to Russia.
“The player had zero intentions to leave La Liga and go to Russia. He's very young in terms of age and so he didn't want to make this move at this moment of his career and he decided not to proceed but Levante were prepared to make the deal happen and so you can imagine for the player how was this affecting him. Now it's February I'm sure that, for the next months, he will give his best for Levante
“In the summer, be careful with the situation of Eyong because Barcelona are following the player. Barcelona really like Eyong, that's guaranteed. Barcelona’s scouting team were already considering to try activate the release clause last summer in the final days of the summer transfer window, so Barcelona were monitoring this boy and were interested in an opportunity, then they didn't proceed but they are still interested.
“At the moment there is nothing done, nothing advanced, just following the player and then be careful with Premier League clubs because, for example, Fulham and others are following the situation. There is a lot of interest from the Premier League and so I would not be surprised if, in the summer, we will have a ‘here we go’ for Eyong to a big club, especially with Premier League sides moving around this boy.”
Atletico Madrid ‘will not make Alvarez exit easy’
"What I can tell you on Julián Álvarez guys, guys, is that at this stage there is nothing agreed, nothing done, nothing advanced, nothing close with any club, especially with Barcelona. Atletico Madrid will not make life easy for any club interested in him.
“The really important part of the story which makes me keep the doors open for the future of Julian Alvarez is the player. He will have to communicate at the end of the season with Atletico Madrid and inform them about his plans for the future.
Current ETV
Julián Alvarez
F (C)
Atlético Madrid
Julián Alvarez
F (C)
Atlético Madrid
ETV Range
€105.7M - €129.2M
“As of now, the message from Atletico Madrid is 'we will not make it easy.' If you see rumours on €65-70 million transfer fee, forget about that. Atletico Madrid don't want to sell the player for this money.
“So I know there are many stories, many rumours, but again Atletico will not make it easy. Then it’s going to be on the player and this is why I tell you: keep the doors open for the future of Alvarez, for Barcelona and for top clubs around Europe, from England and also from other countries. Why? Because it depends on the player, depends on Julian.
“But for sure at this stage nothing is decided. The price is not €65-70m as some reports indicated this week. And again, Atletico will not make it easy. So it is the player who will have to make his feelings clear from now to the end of the season with Atletico Madrid. So let's follow the situation, but so far I can guarantee nothing guaranteed or nothing advanced."
Nunez ‘not happy about Al Hilal situation’
Romano also suggested Darwin Nunez could leave Al-Hilal after being left out of their squad for the remainder of the Saudi Pro League season.
“Darwin Nunez is not happy at all about the situation,” Romano said. “Darwin Nunez can't be happy to be out of the squad at Al-Hilal. He only joined a few months ago and now being out of the squad in the Saudi Pro League is a technical decision after Karim Benzema joined.
“So Darwin will be a big topic. He could be back to Europe in the summer—it is a possibility. Follow the Darwin Nunez situation in the next months because there will be movements and there are several clubs already looking at that situation from Europe and not only. So it will be Darwin to decide.
“Of course, in Saudi the salary is completely different; in Europe it would be reduced. And so it's also on Darwin to decide: 'Okay, I want to go somewhere where I can get big money still as I'm doing at Al-Hilal,' or maybe go back to Europe in a different football. So it's on Darwin to decide. We will see what's going to happen, but there will be movement with him."
Marcus Thuram to leave Inter?
Marcus Thuram could be another player set to move this summer after interest developed in the Inter striker, according to Romano.
Romano said: “The Thuram situation could be an interesting one for the summer. At the moment there is nothing. So despite the reports we had also in the last few months, there is nothing advanced, nothing concrete.
“Many are asking if it's true that he has a release clause in his contract. Yes, there is a release clause in the contract of Marcus Thuram at Inter, but it's of very high value.
“Also, at the moment, the player is fully focused on Inter; it is an important season for the club. And so Thuram remains fully focused on this season for Inter and on the World Cup with the French national team. So it's a big six months coming for Marcus Thuram.
“Then let's see what's going to happen in the summer because there are clubs following the situation, especially from the Premier League and not only, monitoring the progress of Thuram. We will see what's going to happen, but at the moment in terms of something advanced or something concrete, no."
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