Alvarez returns to form at Atletico as Arsenal's failed summer pursuit fades

Julian Alvarez appears to have drawn a line under a difficult summer at Atletico Madrid, returning to sharp form in training after failed transfers to both Barcelona and Arsenal left him on the fringes of Diego Simeone’s squad.

The 26-year-old Argentina striker missed three consecutive training sessions citing illness and was absent from Atletico’s trip to face Sevilla during the window’s closing stages. Arsenal had been pushing hard to sign him before the deadline, but Alvarez ultimately stayed in Madrid — and so did the fallout.

His return to the pitch has been notable. Spanish outlet AS reported that Alvarez took part in an intense session focused on pressure, ball circulation and pressing, describing him as “a new Julian Alvarez.” He reportedly scored during the session and put in additional work with a personal trainer while team-mates were stretching.

Simeone addressed the situation ahead of last weekend’s fixture, framing the transfer saga as a potential turning point for the player. “Julian Alvarez will be in the squad tomorrow. He’s training well, and we expect the best from him, just as we do from all his team-mates,” the Atletico manager said. “For me, life is full of opportunities, and Julian now has an opportunity. A lot of the time, we spend our lives judging. We need to worry less about that and learn more. I hope this has served as a learning experience for him. I hope he’s happy and that he shows it by scoring goals.”

Alvarez had already returned to action in a 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club earlier in September, impressing despite continued jeers from sections of the Atletico support frustrated by his conduct during the window.

Inter Milan forward and fellow Argentina international Lautaro Martinez has also spoken in support of Alvarez, offering insight into his team-mate’s mindset following the saga. Martinez was in Madrid with Inter for their fixture against Real Madrid when he addressed the situation.

For Arsenal, the failed pursuit means Mikel Arteta will continue to rely on Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres as his forward options. That combination has shown early promise — the Gunners have won all three of their Premier League fixtures in the 2026/27 season — and attention now turns to Europe, with a Champions League opener away at Napoli on September 9.