Arsenal are interested in Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez but face competition to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, according to Diego Simeone.
The Atletico Madrid manager confirmed the interest at his press conference before the two sides meet in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Metropolitano Stadium.
“I’m not inside Julian Alvarez’s head,” he said when asked about reports linking him with the Gunners.
“I understand it’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona.
Diego Simeone attends a press conference on the eve of their UEFA Champions League semi final first leg football match against Arsenal. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP via Getty Images)
Alvarez has scored 48 goals in 104 games for Atletico Madrid since his £82m move from Manchester City, where he won back-to-back Premier League titles and was part of the 2022/23 treble.
The Argentina international scored as Atlético eliminated Barça 3-2 on aggregate in a dramatic Champions League quarterfinal tie.
Atlético’s hopes of silverware this season now rest on Europe, after they lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Sociedad, and trail well behind Barça and Real Madrid in the LaLiga title race.
“It’s extraordinary that Atlético are in a Champions League semifinal again, nine years later, our fourth in 14 years,” Simeone said. “It’s not pressure, it’s responsibility. We’re excited to be close. It’s a huge objective that the club has never achieved.”
Simeone also confirmed that winger Ademola Lookman, who has starred since arriving at Atlético mid-season, is a doubt for Wednesday’s game.
“His arrival has had an impact on the team,” Simeone said. “He has some different qualities offensively…We’ll see tomorrow if he can recover, as he had some discomfort today.”
