Atletico Madrid under maximum pressure as Barcelona wait on Julian Alvarez breakthrough | OneFootball

Julian Alvarez’s future at Atletico Madrid appears to be reaching a critical point, with the Argentine forward facing growing pressure from fans and an increasingly complicated transfer situation involving Barcelona and Arsenal.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the next two days could be decisive as Atletico prepare to face Villarreal on Sunday. 

The tension surrounding Alvarez has grown significantly, and the latest scenes outside the club’s training complex offered a clear sign of how sections of the fanbase are reacting.

Messages calling for the striker’s departure appeared around the training ground, including banners reading “Julian out,” while other signs referenced his No. 19 shirt number with it crossed out.

What began as Atletico Madrid’s refusal to entertain any transfer has now developed into a far more complicated standoff, with Arsenal receiving permission to negotiate while Barcelona continue to face a blockade.

Alvarez faces pressure from Atletico supporters

As per the outlet, Alvarez trained normally on Friday, but the atmosphere around Atletico Madrid has become increasingly hostile.

The banners outside the training complex came after the Argentine had already been targeted by insults from sections of the crowd during Atletico’s La Liga opener against Malaga. 

Alvarez was not involved in that match after Diego Simeone did not include him in the squad.

As a result, the relationship between the player and the club has continued to deteriorate since then.

Now, one of the major questions is whether Simeone will call Alvarez into his squad for the Villarreal clash.

Simeone’s decision could offer the clearest indication yet of where the striker currently stands.

Meanwhile, it must be remembered that Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has attempted to calm the situation by repeating that the club do not intend to sell their star forward.

Hours later, Alvarez’s agent Fernando Hidalgo posted a strong message on Instagram that was widely interpreted as a response to the Atletico CEO.

Arsenal offer accepted while Barcelona remain blocked

The biggest twist in the Julian Alvarez transfer saga concerns Atletico’s change in position.

Julian Alvarez is unhappy with Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Initially, the Madrid club was unwilling to consider any departure. Alvarez was simply not for sale.

Now, according to the report, Atletico have received and accepted an offer from Arsenal and were prepared to allow negotiations to move forward.

That development is said to have further angered Alvarez, who was surprised that he could be allowed to discuss a move to another club but not his preferred destination. 

Hence, his response to the Arsenal possibility was a firm refusal.

As a result, Atletico have once again returned to their public stance that Alvarez is not for sale.

Barcelona, meanwhile, remain on the sidelines but continue to monitor every development closely and will only make a move when the time is right.