Alvarez's agent denies Real Madrid contact as Arsenal and Barcelona circle with £130m bid floated

Julian Alvarez’s agent has publicly dismissed talk of a move to Real Madrid, saying no approach has been made for the Atletico Madrid striker, even as Arsenal and Barcelona continue to be linked with a potential £130 million deal this summer.

Fernando Hidalgo told Mundo Deportivo: “We have no information on the matter and no one has contacted us about it.” The statement comes after Real president Florentino Perez stoked speculation last week by claiming he would make a £130 million offer for an unnamed player — with Alvarez among those suggested as the target.

The 25-year-old Argentine has been one of La Liga’s standout forwards since joining Atletico from Manchester City two years ago, scoring 20 goals last season. Despite Atletico’s regular presence in the Champions League, speculation over his future has refused to die down.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone has been characteristically evasive when pressed on whether his striker could leave. “This isn’t a question for me; it’s a question for Julian,” Simeone said. “He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do, and I imagine he’s already made his decision.”

Arsenal, newly crowned Premier League champions, have emerged as credible suitors following their defeat in the Champions League final, which exposed a need for greater quality in the final third. Victor Gyokeres was signed last summer but the Sweden international proved inconsistent despite surpassing 20 goals for the club, and the Gunners appear open to strengthening their attack further.

Barcelona are also in the market for a striker after allowing Robert Lewandowski to leave when his contract expired, though their well-documented financial constraints could complicate any pursuit — particularly after they recently spent £70 million on Anthony Gordon.

Atletico have historically held on to their key players, with Antoine Griezmann’s 2019 departure to Barcelona standing as perhaps the last high-profile exit — a move Griezmann himself would later reverse by returning to the club.