Arsenal's dream of signing a World Cup-winning striker has been shattered.

Arsenal have just received a shock in the transfer market, as their top target Julian Alvarez has preferred to join Barcelona instead of moving to the Emirates Stadium.

According to British media reports, Arsenal have been seriously considering signing Julian Avarez since the beginning of the year. The Gunners' scouting team has been quietly gathering data on the Argentinian star to assess his suitability for manager Mikel Arteta's system.

The parameters analyzed, including injury history, physical condition, and performance, all showed that Alvarez fully met the criteria Arsenal were looking for.

Julian Alvarez prefers joining Barcelona over Arsenal - Photo: TT

Therefore, the North London club is determined to bring the 2022 World Cup-winning striker to the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window.

Coach Diego Simeone admitted that Alvarez is attracting interest from many big clubs across Europe, including Arsenal.

"I don't know what Julian Alvarez is thinking. It's perfectly normal for a striker as good as him to be pursued by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, or Barcelona. That's because Alvarez is really good," said Simeone.

However, according to Spanish media, Julian Alvarez has informed Atletico Madrid's leadership of his desire to leave the club, refusing to sign a new contract.

According to Marca, the former Man City star is eager to join Barcelona. Alvarez believes that the newly crowned La Liga champions have a more ambitious project than Atletico Madrid.

The 26-year-old striker, who scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for Atletico, feels that Barcelona will offer him a greater chance of winning more titles.

However, this deal is not easy. Julian Alvarez still has four years left on his contract with the Wanda Metropolitano club, along with a release clause of up to 500 million euros (430 million pounds).

Agent Fernando Hidalgo further fueled the rumors by posting a picture of Julian Alvarez in Barcelona on social media.

However, Atletico Madrid would only consider selling the Argentine striker for £130 million – a fee they believe Barcelona would struggle to meet.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/arsenal-vo-mong-chieu-mo-tien-dao-vo-dich-world-cup-2519626.html