Diego Simeone has suggested Arsenal are interested in Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez.
The Gunners hold a long-standing interest in the former Manchester City forward, and reportedly weighed up a move last summer before signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Alvarez moved to Spain in 2024 in a deal worth up to £81.5million, and still has four years to run on his contract at the Metropolitano.
The player's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, recently denied transfer speculation linking his client with Liga rivals Barcelona, calling the rumours "1000 per cent false" and "complete nonsense".]
Alvarez, who has 48 goals in 104 games for Atleti, has been equally dismissive of speculation, telling reporters recently: “I try not to give too much importance to what they say, because the truth is that every week new things come out, all kinds of new information.
“I try not to waste energy on that and to focus on what we’re doing here at Atleti. I try not to give too much importance to what’s said in the media, because it often starts becoming a snowball of lies. I can’t keep going out to clarify or deny everything that comes out all the time.”
Alvarez’s head coach, Simeone, is not surprised by the player being linked with a move away.
Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg clash with Arsenal, Simeone was asked if Alvarez is looking to leave Aleti.
"I'm not inside Julian Alvarez’s head," he replied.
"I understand it’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona.
"It's normal because he's very good."
It remains to be seen if Arsenal act on any transfer interest this summer, with Gyokeres enduring a frustrating first season in north London.
Reports in the UK on Tuesday morning suggested Atletico would demand a fee close to the club-record £105m spent on Declan Rice.
