Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in signing Arsenal target Julian Alvarez.
Speaking ahead of Atletico’s clash with Barca on Tuesday, the president was asked about rumours linking the striker with a move away.
What is the highest fee you would pay to sign Julian Alvarez for Arsenal?
Is he worth more than Declan Rice?👀
Arsenal are keen on signing Alvarez in the summer, with Andrea Berta looking to sign him for the second time.
However, Cerezo was not entertaining any talk of a potential departure for the Argentine ahead of Atletico’s Copa del Rey semi-final match.
Arsenal warned Julian Alvarez is ‘worth a lot’
Arsenal and FC Barcelona have both been warned that Julian Alvarez is ‘worth a lot’ to Atletico Madrid by the club’s president, Enrique Cerezo.
Back in the summer of 2024, Atletico paid a club record fee of £81m to sign the striker from Manchester City.
The Gunners or Barca would likely need to exceed that fee to stand a chance of landing the 26-year-old in the summer.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Cerezo told Mundo Deportivo: “He’s an Atletico Madrid player, just like Griezmann, and he has a contract with us. He’s worth a lot because he’s with us.”
Atletico look set to put up a strong fight to keep the striker in the Spanish capital, although the Gunners will be keen to avoid another transfer saga.
Julian Alvarez would be a big gamble for Arsenal
Alvarez is having a rather mixed campaign at the Wanda Metropolitano, scoring 14 goals and six assists in 39 matches.
Berta appears keen to sign a new striker in the summer to replace Gabriel Jesus and work alongside Viktor Gyokeres.
Fill in the blank: Arsenal are a ___________________ team when Viktor Gyokeres starts…
Is the Swede making Mikel Arteta's team better or worse?
Gyokeres is closing in on the 20-goal mark at Arsenal, which is likely to buy him more time at the Emirates Stadium.
Even the Swedish striker has scored more goals than Alvarez this season, so paying potentially over £80 million for the Atletico man would be a major gamble.
Berta will now be assessing his options ahead of the summer, with likely two attackers set to be signed by the Gunners, including a left winger.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
