Arsenal sent 'excessive' Julian Alvarez transfer message as January prediction is made
Julian Alvarez is still at Atletico Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
Former Barcelona striker Julio Salinas believes the asking fee for Arsenal and Barca-linked Julian Alvarez is excessive. Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez caught the eye of Mikel Arteta's side this summer as they looked to strengthen their attack.
The former Manchester City star confirmed his wish to leave Diego Simeone's team, alerting some of Europe's biggest clubs to his availability. Catalan giants Barca were the Argentine's preference and approached Atletico for his signature.
However, the Spanish capital-based club refused to sell him to the La Liga champions. It is understood that the Gunners attempted to sign Alvarez from Atletico in a deal that could have been worth around £128million, but failed.
The 26-year-old has now been forced to repair his relationship with the club's fans with no viable exit route until January. And Salinas has spoken to the Spanish media, via Goal, on why he thinks the money being bandied around for Alvarez is too much.
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He said: "I am happy that he will not come now, and I hope he will not come in January either. For me, it would be a mistake.
"He is a very good footballer, and no one can question his quality, but this amount of money seems excessive to me. They must learn a little how to buy better and sell better.
"The offer that I believe Barcelona made, amounting to €130m, seems to me a very large amount, very large."
Arsenal couldn't sign Julian Alvarez this summer(Image: Getty Images)
While Arsenal and Barca continue to be linked with a move for the 2022 World Cup winner, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo has claimed the topic of Alvarez’s future is now “closed”.
Alvarez has spent the last few weeks building up his fitness, but has yet to start a single match this season.
"I see Alvarez in good shape, but the truth is that he is suffering after what happened recently, and that is a cause for concern,” he said, via Spanish news outlet Sport.
"I think his recovery is going well, and when the coach sees that the time is right, he will return to play.
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