Alvarez's Arsenal decision, but which way?

Player

Julian Alvarez. World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, and the man Atletico Madrid brought in from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 to lead their attack.

Current club

Atletico Madrid, under Diego Simeone, where Alvarez has become one of the first names on the team sheet since arriving from the Etihad.

Linked club

Arsenal, who Football365 report have made a fresh, late approach on deadline day itself as Mikel Arteta looks to add firepower for a title push that's gone deep into the calendar already.

Source

Football365, with the outlet citing Fabrizio Romano for the latest layer of the story: that Arsenal now "believe" they could get a deal done, and that Alvarez has since arrived at a final decision.

Reliability

This sits as a strong rumour. There's a named outlet, a specific club making a specific approach, and Romano attached to the story, which is normally enough to push a report up the ladder. What keeps it here rather than higher is simple: the actual content of Alvarez's decision, yes or no, hasn't been detailed in what's been published. A deal isn't confirmed by either club, and no fee or terms have surfaced.

What's being claimed

Arsenal have gone back in for Alvarez on deadline day. Arsenal's camp is said to believe a deal is gettable. And Alvarez, per the reporting, has now made his call. What's missing is the actual answer: agree to join, or stay put at Atletico Madrid.

What would make sense

Arsenal spending late, big money on a proven forward for a title push tracks with everything Arteta's side have been building toward. Alvarez, for his part, would walk into a squad fighting on multiple fronts rather than settling for domestic football only, which is the kind of pitch that tends to move players on deadline day.

What still needs to happen

Even with a personal decision reportedly made, this still needs Atletico Madrid to sanction a sale this late in the window, a fee to be agreed between the clubs, personal terms to follow, and a medical before any paperwork gets filed. None of that has been confirmed yet, and the clock on this window is not generous.