President Joan Laporta unabashedly declared himself to be \u201cvery interested\u201d <\/a>in Alvarez last week, despite Atleti\u2019s public stubbornness, as he kept up the pressure ahead of Tuesday\u2019s transfer deadline.<\/p>\n In retort, Atl\u00e9tico put out a statement insisting their was a \u201c0% chance\u201d of selling to Barcelona<\/a>.<\/p>\n With Alvarez booed and jeered mercilessly on his return to action<\/a> for his club against Villarreal, there have been reports that Atleti would sell to Arsenal<\/a>\u2014but only for around $173 million. Manchester City, too, have been touted with an improbable reunion.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018The Plan Is Clear\u2019 Says Atletico Madrid Director A Juli\u00e1n Alvarez-shaped cloud looms over Atl\u00e9ti. | Angel Martinez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The ugly, months-long saga has led to reports of Alvarez suffering with his mental health, while Atleti CEO Gil Mar\u00edn admitted that the forward is \u201cgoing through a very, very difficult situation, both personally and professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n The 26-year-old missed three training sessions with his club last week with \u201cillness,\u201d while manager Diego Simeone left him out entirely from the team that traveled to Sevilla on Saturday for a 3\u20131 win.<\/p>\n However, AS<\/a> reports that Alvarez returned to solo training on Friday evening and is back doing group work as of Sunday. It is noted that the coaching staff prepared a weekend session for those who didn’t get any playing time in Andalusia, along with some youth team players. <\/p>\n Prior to the Sevilla match, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid director of football Mateu Alemany told reporters: \u201cThe plan is very clear. Juli\u00e1n had a few days where he wasn’t feeling well. Yesterday [Friday] he trained and we expect him to rejoin the team quickly and be available for the next league match. <\/p>\n \u201cI’ve spoken with him and everything is fine.\u201d <\/p>\n Simeone echoed a similar sentiment in his prematch press conference, insisting: \u201cWhen Juli\u00e1n returns to training, I will do everything possible to make him feel as important as Juli\u00e1n has always been at the club.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether the fans are as on board with that plan as Simeone is another matter.<\/p>\n What Does Training Return Mean for Transfer Saga? Arsenal may be the only way out for Alvarez now. | Alberto Gardin\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n There are now just two days left of the transfer window, Atl\u00e9ti are clearly planning for a reality where Alvarez is still one of their players come Sept. 2.<\/p>\n With a Bar\u00e7a move apparently off the table (unless this has all been one giant bluff), it seems the only thing that could stop the forward being part of Atleti\u2019s roster come the clash with Athletic Club next weekend is a huge-money bid from Arsenal. <\/p>\n However, whether Alvarez would even want to go to England is another matter. AS claim he is \u201cunconvinced,\u201d whileThe Athletic\u2019s David Ornstein<\/a> has reported that the Argentina international has spoken directly with Gunners manager Mikel Arteta to tell him he doesn\u2019t want to join the Premier League champions.<\/p>\n Given the situation then, the player\u2019s return to training could be read as him giving up on his dream move.<\/p>\n![\"Juli\u00e1n](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m1413fw376ycgwy13a.jpg\" "\\"Juli\u00e1n")
<\/p>\n![\"Juli\u00e1n](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m0zbfmgczewkq86j6p.jpg\" "\\"Juli\u00e1n")
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