Arsenal’s hopes of signing Julian Alvarez in January have suffered a significant setback after Atletico Madrid made clear that the Argentina international is not expected to leave during the winter transfer window.
Alvarez shocked the LaLiga club during the 2026 FIFA World Cup by making his wish to move on public. Barcelona emerged as the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner’s preferred destination, prompting a damaging dispute between Atletico and their Spanish rivals.
Atletico have since made their position clear: they will not sell Alvarez to Barcelona. The forward has also been unconvinced by the prospect of returning to the Premier League, further reducing Arsenal’s chances of securing his services.
Arsenal’s interest in Alvarez remains active, with manager Mikel Arteta still open to bringing the former Manchester City forward to the club in the months ahead. However, the possibility of a move now appears highly unlikely in January.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup winner has gradually been reintegrated into Diego Simeone’s squad in recent weeks. That process has been helped by Alvarez apologising for his actions as Atletico seek to improve relations with their supporters.
Simeone accepted the apology and praised Alvarez, suggesting the situation at the club has eased. As a result, any potential departure is expected to be delayed until at least the end of the 2026/27 campaign.