Marc Pubill

Romano files the Pubill story away: Atlético are not selling and Arsenal’s approach went nowhere

Fabrizio Romano places the Atlético Madrid defender, a World Cup winner with Spain, on Arsenal's list, with the club having asked about his price. Atlético want to keep him, will not negotiate, and his contract carries a €500m release clause. A sounding-out, nothing more.

Latest development

**Update 15/08 (evening) — the file closes as fast as it opened.** Two days after revealing that Arsenal had asked about Marc Pubill's price, Fabrizio Romano returned to it to shut it down: the player is not for sale, Atlético Madrid have no intention of selling, and he calls the whole thing a 'non-story'. The calls Arsenal made this week therefore went nowhere. We move the line to COOLED OFF. The approach did happen — Romano himself reported it — but it stops at an enquiry that was rebuffed, and there is no negotiation to follow. The line stays for traceability: if Atlético change their position before the 31 August deadline, it will be reopened.