Julian Alvarez to Barcelona: Romano delivers bombshell Deadline Day update

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Julian Alvarez continues to have his heart set on a move to Barcelona and has ruled out the prospect of a late switch this summer to Arsenal, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

The Alvarez deal has been one of the longest-running sagas of the summer but has now reached a definitive conclusion – for the time being.

Arsenal remained in contact with the 26-year-old until the closing hours of the window but were unsuccessful in their attempts to prise him away from the Spanish capital, where he will remain, despite missing training on multiple occasions in late August.

Fabrizio Romano on Julian Alvarez latest

Romano has explained that Alvarez will remain with Atletico Madrid for the time being but continues to target a switch to the Camp Nou side in the future.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Julian Alvarez this morning is training with Atletico Madrid in a very normal spirit. So if you are training at lunchtime, I doubt that there could be any surprise in the final hours.

“The expectation of all parties involved, the agents of Julian Alvarez, the player's family, Atletico Madrid, all those involved, is that Julian is not changing his mind and is not leaving Atletico Madrid to join Arsenal.

“We know Arsenal have considered this possibility and have been waiting for some weeks, but not having any sort of green light from Julian.

“So the reality is that several clubs were trying to understand if there was room for negotiation at the very end, if maybe Julian changed his mind, but Julian always remained in the same position.

“He wants to go to Barcelona if it can be possible. This summer, as it's not possible, Barcelona will announce Gabriel Jesus today. He remains absolutely convinced about the move to Barcelona in the future.

“So that remains the plan for Julian.”

Will Julian Alvarez move to Barcelona in January?

Alvarez’s next possibility to join Barca will arrive in the mid-season transfer window, which opens in Spain on 2 January.

A deal promises to be difficult to negotiate as the relationship between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona has been badly damaged by events over the summer.

Indeed, the leaders of Diego Simeone’s side repeatedly insisted that the Argentine was not for sale and even went so far as to publish a statement criticising Barca’s behaviour with regard to this transfer as Joan Laporta, the president of the Catalan club, fielded questions over the move at a press conference.

It read: “Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner. We fully stand behind the club’s previously communicated position that FC Barcelona failed to meet these requirements and, as a result, there will not be any negotiation and there is zero consideration of an Alvarez transfer to Barcelona.”

Despite Arsenal’s interest in Alvarez, his desire to move to Barcelona was such that he would not even take Mikel Arteta’s calls, according to reports in Spain.

While he will remain in Madrid, the speculation over his future will remain and will no doubt step up again as the January window approaches.