Barcelona have preference; Arsenal have the money – Julian Alvarez faces defining week at Atletico Madrid

Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has reached the point where waiting may no longer be an option.

With the transfer window moving towards its final days, the Catalans still have not submitted an offer for an alternative striker, and according to Fabrizio Romano, this week will be important in determining whether Barcelona continue chasing Alvarez or finally accept that a deal with Atletico Madrid is unlikely and move on.

The problem right now is that there is still no obvious reason for Barcelona to give up completely.

Alvarez wants to leave Atletico, and his relationship with the club and sections of its support has deteriorated badly.

The scenes during the recent match against Villarreal made that impossible to ignore, but Atletico remain determined not to sell their striker to Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are watching closely, as they believe they have the financial strength to make a deal happen, but there is one significant complication: Alvarez is not interested in opening the door to a move to England.

That leaves Barcelona with a difficult choice. Continue waiting for a situation at Atletico that may never change, or use the remaining time in the market to find another solution.

Barcelona have yet to move for different striker

The most important detail in Romano’s update is what Barcelona have not done, which is not making an offer for a second striker.

Julian Alvarez was jeered by Atletico Madrid fans. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

That suggests the Alvarez possibility remains alive, even if Atletico’s public position has not changed.

Barcelona appear unwilling to close the door on their priority target until they are convinced there is absolutely no route to a deal, but there is a risk attached to that approach.

The closer the deadline gets, the fewer realistic options remain. Barcelona cannot simply wait indefinitely for Atletico to soften their stance and then expect another top-level striker to still be available if the answer remains no.

That is why the coming week could finally force a decision.

Barcelona’s transfer strategy currently has two paths. The first is to continue pursuing a deal that Romano has described as something close to a “miracle”, hoping Alvarez’s desire to leave eventually creates pressure on Atletico.

The second is to accept reality and redirect their efforts towards another forward. For now, though, the club has not shown their hand.

Atletico fans turn on Alvarez

The situation around Alvarez has become increasingly uncomfortable in Madrid.

During the Villarreal match, Atletico supporters made their feelings clear from the moment the Argentine began warming up.

Atletico Madrid fans are no longer supporting their striker. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

There was a negative reaction when his name was announced, and the atmosphere did not improve after he entered the game.

At full-time, Alvarez headed towards the tunnel alone rather than joining his teammates in greeting the supporters.

The moment, understandably, fuelled speculation, although Diego Simeone later explained that the club had instructed him to go directly inside.

Even with that clarification, the picture remains clear. Alvarez’s relationship with Atletico has deteriorated since he expressed his desire to leave during the World Cup.

Barcelona are aware of that situation, but Atletico’s stance remains firm that they do not want to strengthen a direct La Liga rival.

Arsenal, on the other hand, could theoretically offer Atletico an easier solution, but Alvarez has not opened the door to Arsenal or to a move to England.

Until that changes, the Gunners’ financial advantage may count for very little.