MADRID — Atletico Madrid have reportedly set Julian Alvarez a Sunday deadline to decide whether he is prepared to consider a move to Arsenal or remain with the Spanish club, as uncertainty continues over the Argentina striker’s immediate future.
Alvarez is understood to be weighing his options after Atletico repeatedly made clear to him that a transfer to Barcelona would not be allowed. Despite those discussions, the forward has yet to signal that he is ready to seriously consider a move to Arsenal, leaving the situation unresolved as the deadline approaches.
According to the information surrounding the negotiations, Atletico want clarity from the player and are prepared to allow him until Sunday to make his position known. The lack of a decision has increased uncertainty around whether Alvarez will stay in Madrid or make the switch to the Premier League champions.
People familiar with the situation in Spain believe that the longer Alvarez takes without committing to a move, the greater the possibility that he will ultimately remain at Atletico Madrid. His hesitation has therefore become an important factor in determining how the transfer situation develops in the coming days.
The uncertainty has already affected Alvarez’s involvement on the pitch. Atletico head coach Diego Simeone has confirmed that the striker will not feature against Sevilla this weekend after missing the team’s training sessions for the past three days.
Alvarez’s absence comes as the club attempts to manage a difficult situation surrounding one of its most important players. Rather than allowing the transfer uncertainty to continue without a clear position, Atletico appear to be seeking a decision that would determine whether negotiations over a possible move to Arsenal can progress.
The situation has also prompted a public assessment from Atletico chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, who acknowledged that Alvarez is experiencing a difficult period. Gil Marín suggested that outside influences had contributed to the player’s uncertainty and said he regretted the circumstances surrounding the situation.
Gil Marín described Alvarez as a person and professional whom he knows well, while also emphasising the striker’s quality as a footballer. His comments reflected the club’s apparent concern about the uncertainty affecting the player at a time when his future is being closely watched.
The Atletico executive said Alvarez was currently confused and going through a particularly difficult period personally and professionally. His remarks underline the tension surrounding the transfer situation as the Sunday deadline approaches.
For Arsenal, the key issue remains whether Alvarez will become open to the possibility of moving to England. The Premier League champions have emerged as the destination Atletico are asking the striker to consider, but there has been no indication from Alvarez that he has fully accepted the prospect of leaving Spain.
Atletico, meanwhile, have continued to make their position regarding Barcelona clear to the player. That has left Alvarez considering a narrower set of options, with the decision now centred on whether to entertain Arsenal’s interest or continue his career at Atletico.
The coming days are therefore expected to be decisive. If Alvarez agrees to consider the Arsenal move, the situation could move into a new phase, while a decision to remain at Atletico would bring an end to the immediate uncertainty over his future.
For now, the striker remains at the centre of a transfer situation in which his own decision is expected to determine the next step. Atletico’s Sunday deadline gives Alvarez a limited window to provide the clarity the club is seeking.
With Simeone confirming that he will miss the Sevilla match and the club’s leadership publicly acknowledging the difficulties surrounding him, attention is now firmly on Alvarez and the decision he makes before the deadline.
Atletico Madrid give Julian Alvarez Sunday deadline over Arsenal transfer
