Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has finally broken his silence over the future of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, amid reports suggesting that Arsenal are interested in signing the player in the summer.
The Gunners are enjoying an outstanding season, with the prospect of an unprecedented quadruple growing more and more likely with every passing week. The North Londoners sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, while they’re in the last 16 of the Champions League, the final of the Carabao Cup and the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
Despite a potentially historic campaign unfolding, Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta aren’t prepared to rest on their laurels. The duo are drawing up plans to enact another busy summer on the transfer front, with Alvarez currently earmarked as the most likely candidate to be Arsenal’s marquee addition.
Fabrizio Romano comments on Julian Alvarez’s future
Alvarez is enjoying another productive season in Spain, netting 16 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions for Atletico. This comes after he contributed to a staggering 36 goals last season, making him one of the most potent forwards in European football.
This outstanding form hasn’t done anything to quell speculation linking the Argentine with a move away from the Wanda Metropolitano. In fact, Alvarez himself refused to rule out a summer transfer when interrogated about his future after Tuesday night’s Champions League clash between Diego Simeone’s side and Tottenham Hotspur.
“I don’t know, I don’t know, but maybe yes, maybe no. You never know,” he told the media.
While this cryptic response might have excited Arsenal fans about their club’s prospects of landing the 26-year-old, a more concrete report from a respected journalist is needed to really get the pulses racing. Fortunately for Gunners’ supporters, this came in the form of a Fabrizio Romano update on Wednesday evening.
The Italian reporter claimed that ‘things could happen’ in the summer transfer window regarding Alvarez, before confirming that there is indeed interest from the Premier League.
“Julian Alvarez has spoken publicly about his future after a long time,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“When asked if he will stay at Atletico Madrid next season, his answer was not completely closed. He said something like maybe yes, maybe not, you never know what happens in life.
“He also made clear that he is very happy at Atletico Madrid and focused on competing. But the feeling is that things could happen in the summer transfer window.
“Barcelona appreciate Alvarez a lot, even if there are no negotiations at the moment. There is also interest from the Premier League and from Paris Saint-Germain, who already wanted him before he joined Atletico.”
Julian Alvarez would be a ceiling raising signing for Arsenal
Arsenal have been criticised for their functional style of play this season, with many feeling that the Gunners play ‘ugly’ football that doesn’t excite fans. While there are elements of truth to this claim, Arteta is somewhat hamstrung by the attacking talent he has at his disposal.
There are several talented offensive players in the Spaniard’s squad, although they ultimately lack any truly explosive firepower, barring perhaps Bukayo Saka. Alvarez would solve this issue.
| Club | Matches | Goals | Assists |
| River Plate | 122 | 54 | 31 |
| Manchester City | 103 | 36 | 19 |
| Atletico Madrid | 98 | 45 | 15 |
| Argentina | 49 | 13 | 4 |
The number nine is not only extremely productive in the final third but also offers a lot in almost every aspect of the game. An outstanding presser, a good passer and a dangerous dribbler, every single attribute is at a high level.
He would significantly elevate the level of Arsenal’s attack and make the Gunners a force to be reckoned with, not just from a gritty, defensive standpoint, but also as a free-flowing offensive unit.
