Fabrizio Romano says he has something 'important to clarify' about Julian Alvarez and Arsenal
We are in the final week of the summer transfer window, and Arsenal are still hoping to sign Julian Alvarez.
The Premier League champions have been chasing the World Cup winner for quite some time now, and their chances have not looked great from the start.
Alvarez’s preference has always been Barcelona, and that stance has still not changed. Does that mean he has rejected Arsenal? No.
Fabrizio Romano has explained why.
Fabrizio Romano gives the latest on the Julian Alvarez transfer saga
The Julian Alvarez transfer saga is looking like it will go down to the wire now.
The player’s dream is still Barcelona, and the Catalans have not given up on signing him. However, Atletico Madrid are adamant that they will not sell him to their La Liga rivals.
Arsenal have spoken to Alvarez over a potential move, but the response they have received is that he wants to sign for Barcelona.
That has been termed a ‘rejection’ by many in the media, but Romano has claimed that it is important to clarify that the player has not turned down Arsenal.
He said in his YouTube video: “Arsenal are monitoring the situation. Arsenal understand that the player wants to go to Barcelona. The message from the player to Arsenal has been very clear several times, not just once: ‘Thanks, but I want to go to Barcelona.’
“I think it’s important to clarify one thing. It’s not about rejecting Arsenal. One thing is to reject. One thing is to want something different. Julian has a dream, and the dream is Barcelona. That’s the point.
“But then, if it’s not going to be possible, and at the moment, from Atletico Madrid, nothing has changed. One more day is gone. It’s one week to go. Monday has passed. Today is Tuesday, and still no doors open for Alvarez to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid.
“If in the next seven days, at some point, Julian Alvarez will tell Fernando Hidalgo, his agent, ‘okay, I want to consider Arsenal’, in that case, my understanding is that Arsenal would be prepared to try and reach an agreement with Atletico Madrid on the transfer fee. So, Arsenal would be very ready to sit at the table with Atletico Madrid and to try to reach an agreement club-to-club.
“Arsenal believe they could strike an agreement club-to-club also because they are going to make extra profit, extra money from Gabriel Martinelli, and so with Martinelli leaving, this extra money they can put on a deal for Alvarez. But now, it depends on what’s going to happen in this case with the situation of Barcelona, Atletico and the player.
“So, the only way to see Julian joining Arsenal is if Julian goes and says to his agent: ‘Okay, let’s talk to Arsenal.’ If this is going to happen, if he’s going to open doors for Arsenal, they are still there. This is really in the player’s hands.”
Julian Alvarez is great but Arsenal need to replace Gabriel Martinelli too
Romano has claimed above that Arsenal are ready to use the money they will get from Gabriel Martinelli’s sale to fund a move for Alvarez.
That’s all well and good, but the Gunners need to replace the Brazilian too.
Christos Tzolis has been brilliant on the left flank, but it would not be wise to ask him to do what he’s doing for 60 games. Eberechi Eze can play there too, but that’s not his natural position.
We would love Alvarez as much as the next Arsenal fan, but that doesn’t mean Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta should ignore the left wing.
A new signing there is absolutely necessary too.
