Diego Simeone issues public response after seeing Andrea Berta try to sign Julian Alvarez for Arsenal

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Andrea Berta is wasting no time ahead of his first summer transfer window as Arsenal’s sporting director.

After Berta was unveiled at Arsenal, it quickly became apparent that the Italian is ready to give his all to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Moments after the announcement, Arsenal’s links to Viktor Gyokeres were reported by David Ornstein as the hunt for a number nine commenced.

Berta would love to bring Gyokeres to the Emirates, being a firm admirer of the Swede, however, he’s not the only player on the sporting director’s list.

It’s been reported that Arsenal have planned to meet Julian Alvarez, with Berta having the potential to have a say in the Argentine’s career once again.

• READ MORE: The 12 attackers on Andrea Berta’s Arsenal wish list have just been revealed and it includes £147m winger

Diego Simeone responds to Arsenal’s transfer interest in Julian Alvarez

It was Berta who signed Alvarez at Atletico Madrid from Manchester City during the 2024 summer transfer window. 

The World Cup winner left Pep Guardiola’s squad to sign for Atletico for £81m, in search of a starring role after being forced to settle for a spot in Erling Haaland’s shadow. 

Since then, the 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength, directly contributing to 36 goals in 2024/25, scoring 17 in La Liga.

Alvarez’s form in his debut season at Atletico would make a move very difficult for Arsenal to pull off, something that Diego Simeone commented on after his side’s 4-0 win over Girona.

“We need to keep nurturing the team,” Simeone told the media before turning attention to transfer links regarding Alvarez.

“What Julian Alvarez did, the simplicity of finding a teammate. We need Julian Alvarez, the one we went looking for.

“I hope he’s happy to be on this team, and we can help him with a collective effort to maximise his talent.”

Simeone has made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want to see the back of Alvarez just yet, but Berta might have other ideas that could significantly impact his former club. 

Alvarez would be the perfect signing for Andrea Berta

Simeone made his feelings about Berta clear when the Italian departed Atletico, sharing his gratitude for the work the sporting director had done in Madrid.

That being said, the sporting director could burn a bridge with his former colleague if he is to further explore a move for Alvarez.

From an Arsenal point of view, it’s a risk that Berta has to take, given what Alvarez is capable of offering in the Premier League. 

At only 25, the Argentine has won an eye-watering number of major accolades and played his part in each one, usually as a supporting member. 

At Atletico, the striker has showcased what he can produce in a starring role, and having already made a name for himself in the Premier League, he could arrive at the Emirates as a player ready to go without running the risk of a lengthy adaptation period.

It remains to be seen whether Berta considers Alvarez to be in Arsenal’s reach, with Simeone and Atletico not prepared to let the forward go easily.