Arsenal transfer news: Julian Alvarez apology offers fresh hope amid Barcelona competition

Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has issued a grovelling apology to supporters for openly expressing his tendency to permission the nine implicit the summer.

The erstwhile Manchester City striker was heavy linked with moves to Arsenal and Barcelona during the astir caller transportation window, and his tendency to articulation the reigning La Liga champions was an unfastened secret.

Alvarez stoked the occurrence implicit the summertime by claiming it was his "dream" to play for Barcelona, comments which burned bridges with Atletico fans, who person since been booing the Argentina planetary during location games this season.

Alvarez's transportation tendency and fittingness problems person disrupted the opening to his 2026-27 campaign, arsenic helium lone made his archetypal La Liga commencement of the run against Deportivo La Coruna connected Saturday, but helium ended up scoring the victor successful a 1-0 triumph.

Following Atletico's victory, Alvarez expressed regret implicit his comments - labelling them a "mistake" - and vowed to triumph backmost the favour of the Metropolitano Stadium faithful.

Julian Alvarez apology successful full

"I wanted to apologize to our fans for my words during the World Cup. They were a mistake. Both the mode I said them and the timing," Alvarez told Movistar, arsenic quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

"Especially due to the fact that I recognize wherefore the fans were angry. I would person been aggravated excessively if I were a fan. Even much truthful considering however overmuch they’ve supported me. They’ve been precise generous, and I truly admit that.

"I besides privation to convey the squad due to the fact that they’ve supported maine passim this time. I’m gradually feeling better. I’m grateful to each my teammates due to the fact that they’ve supported me.

"I’m moving to improve. I’ve been feeling amended successful the past fewer matches, some physically and connected the ball. I privation to assistance the squad and springiness my best. When you’re feeling bully successful life, it shows connected the pitch.

"Even though we’re professionals, everything has an influence. I consciousness bully and acceptable to vie for everything. Hopefully, done hard enactment and humility, I tin crook this concern around."

Alvarez has present made decisive contributions successful some of Atletico's past 2 La Liga games, besides supplying the assistance for Alex Baena's 89th-minute victor successful a 1-0 triumph astatine Espanyol connected October 17.

The 26-year-old besides struck Atletico's lone extremity successful their 1-1 Champions League gully with Stuttgart during the week, meaning helium boasts 3 extremity involvements from his past 3 games successful a reddish and achromatic kit.

Arsenal transportation news: Still anticipation for Gunners successful Julian Alvarez chase

Alvarez remains nether declaration with Atletico Madrid until the extremity of the 2029-30 season, and the superior giants would beryllium expected to request astatine slightest £100m to authorisation his merchantability successful the summertime of 2027.

While the ex-Man City striker appears genuinely remorseful and is moving to triumph backmost the spot of Atletico supporters, helium did not straight regularisation retired a determination distant from the Metropolitano Stadium successful the adjacent future.

Alvarez precocious changed his agent, ceasing operations with long-serving representative Fernando Hidalgo - whom helium had worked with since the property of 15 - and turning to Pablo Barquero, who has beardown ties with Barcelona.

Alvarez's determination could suggest that helium is leaving the doorway unfastened to a determination to Camp Nou successful the future, contempt Atletico publically stating that they would not woody with the Catalan giants successful immoderate capableness implicit the summer.

Arsenal stay successful the representation excessively and person been backed to bushed Barcelona to a transfer, truthful portion Alvarez has taken 1 measurement towards rebuilding bridges with Atletico fans, the saga is acold from over.