Arsenal’s summer transfer plans have reportedly suffered a major setback after one of their biggest attacking targets made his future intentions clear.
The Gunners are preparing aggressively for next season after finally ending their 22-year wait for the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta.
Strengthening the attack remains one of Arsenal’s biggest priorities despite their domestic success.
Club officials spent months analysing several elite forwards across Europe as they searched for the perfect addition to Arteta’s frontline.
One player quickly emerged as a serious candidate behind the scenes. Arsenal reportedly gathered detailed performance data on Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez as far back as January.
Sporting director Andrea Berta also reportedly played a major role in the interest after previously bringing Alvarez to Atletico Madrid in 2024.
However, despite Arsenal’s serious interest, fresh reports from Spain now suggest Alvarez already decided where he wants to play next.
According to MARCA, the Argentine informed Atletico Madrid that he prefers a move to Barcelona.
The former Manchester City striker reportedly believes the Catalan giants offer a more ambitious long-term sporting project than Atletico.
Alvarez also reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign a new contract in Madrid, further increasing speculation surrounding his future.
The 26-year-old enjoyed an excellent spell at Atletico after scoring 49 goals in 106 appearances for the club.
His performances attracted interest from several European giants including Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Even Atletico manager Diego Simeone recently admitted it was completely normal for elite clubs to pursue the Argentine forward.
Still, Atletico reportedly plan to make any deal extremely difficult. The Spanish side value Alvarez at around £130 million.
For now, reports strongly suggest Julian Alvarez already sees Barcelona as his preferred destination despite Arsenal’s extensive efforts behind the scenes.
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