Arsenal are monitoring the evolving situation surrounding Julián Álvarez at Atlético Madrid, as reports from Spain indicate that Barcelona have shifted their transfer focus away from the striker. Following an intense summer-long pursuit of the Argentina international, which saw public friction between the two Spanish clubs, Barcelona’s priorities have reportedly changed due to the extraordinary form of Raphinha.
According to reports in the Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona are no longer “fixated” on signing the 26-year-old Atlético forward. Having previously failed to secure a deal during the summer window—with Atlético Madrid consistently refusing to negotiate with their domestic rivals—Barcelona have successfully deployed Raphinha in a central role this season. The Brazilian has delivered a historic start to the campaign, scoring 12 goals in his first seven La Liga appearances, a performance level that has seen Hansi Flick’s side achieve their best-ever start to a season.
While Barcelona remain admirers of Álvarez, their recruitment strategy is now understood to be pivoting toward the defensive line, with a specific focus on signing a left-sided centre-back. During the summer, Barcelona were linked with defenders such as Alessandro Bastoni, Josko Gvardiol, and Aymeric Laporte, though none of those moves materialized. Financial considerations may also influence their January activity; reports suggest the club may need to generate funds through player sales, with figures such as Alejandro Balde previously identified as potential candidates to be made available.
For Arsenal, the door may have cracked open, though the complex nature of the summer’s events means any prospective move remains in the exploratory phase. Arsenal were in contact with Álvarez’s camp during the final days of the summer window, though the player remained committed to his goal of moving to Barcelona. Speaking on his YouTube channel, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano clarified that it was not a direct rejection of Arsenal by the player, but rather a singular focus on a Camp Nou move that ultimately stalled any English interest.
Despite the initial failure to sign the former Manchester City attacker, Arsenal’s need for offensive versatility remains a talking point. Mikel Arteta’s side currently trails several league rivals in total goals scored early in the campaign, prompting internal discussion regarding potential reinforcement. However, any move for Álvarez in January would require not only a change in the player's personal stance but also a shift in Atlético Madrid’s firm refusal to sanction his departure. Atlético, who explicitly stated there was “0% chance” of selling to Barcelona in August, remain in a strong position, with the player under contract and having made four appearances across domestic and European competitions this term.
As the January window approaches, the landscape of the market will likely be defined by Barcelona’s defensive requirements and Arsenal’s search for further attacking output. While reports link the Gunners to other targets, such as Eli Junior Kroupi, the ongoing situation in Madrid ensures that Álvarez remains a name to watch as the mid-season window opens on 2 January.
