Julián Álvarez

Alvarez stays at Atletico: Arsenal close the window without their number nine

This file has changed shape twice. First in early August: Alvarez publicly asked to leave during the World Cup (a move would be "the best outcome" for him and the club, he told ESPN), and Diego Simeone answered in Seoul that the club had decided — he stays. Barcelona, the player's preferred destination, saw around €100m waved away without negotiation; Real Madrid had €150m turned down in June; and Atletico filed a complaint with FIFA over an alleged illegal approach by Barcelona. Then on 21 August: Fabrizio Romano confirmed Arsenal had made contact with Atletico and met sporting director Mateu Alemany in London. Arsenal are no longer spectators. Two locks remain, the same ones as in July: the asking price, which Romano calls too high, and the player's own preference, having never opened the door to England. The package reported by SPORT — around €80m plus Gyokeres — has not been picked up by any top-tier source.

Latest development

1. 1 September (evening): the file dies exactly where it spent the summer, on the decision of a player who never wanted England. Alvarez trained normally with Atletico on Tuesday morning with no sign of a deadline exit, and Arsenal stopped believing in it and looked elsewhere. The Gunners were the only club offering a fee Madrid would accept, but the Argentine was aiming for Barcelona and Atletico refused to sell to a Liga rival. No bid was ever lodged. The entry goes cold for want of a subject.

   31 August: Atletico's ultimatum ran out without an answer. By Sunday night Alvarez still had not opened the door to London, and Sky Sports describe a player lost in a situation he no longer controls. Romano confirms Arsenal are watching and nothing more: "this depends only on the player". Gianluigi Longari reports a fresh direct contact between the club and the Argentine's camp to try to talk him round. Arsenal still rate his arrival unlikely and will not negotiate until he signals real interest. Atletico hold firm on refusing to sell to Barcelona.