Atletico Madrid pursue Jonathan David on loan as Julian Alvarez exit edges Arsenal closer

Atletico Madrid have tabled a loan proposal for Juventus forward Jonathan David, according to Fabrizio Romano, as the La Liga club moves to secure attacking cover amid growing uncertainty over Julian Alvarez’s future at the Metropolitano.

Alvarez, 26, has missed three training sessions this week and was absent from Atletico’s 3-1 victory over Sevilla on Saturday. The club has reportedly given the Argentine a deadline to declare whether he will stay or accept a move, with Arsenal among the leading candidates to sign him. Atletico’s offer for David is said to include a buy option clause, though Juventus must first identify a replacement before sanctioning any deal.

Despite Arsenal’s position as frontrunners, the transfer is complicated by Alvarez’s own preferences. He has publicly expressed a desire to join Barcelona, a destination Atletico have flatly ruled out. Club chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin was unequivocal on the matter: “Our intention and my personal dream is for him to stay with us, to remain at Atletico. To compete among the greats, you need great players, and Julian is one. If he believes that staying at Atletico Madrid is no longer feasible, we will look for an alternative, but it will never, ever be Barcelona.”

Further complicating Arsenal’s pursuit, Alvarez is understood to have told Mikel Arteta directly during talks between the pair that he was not interested in joining the Gunners. When Arteta was asked about those reported conversations at a press conference, the Arsenal manager offered a terse response: “Don’t go there.”

Arsenal’s options in the forward market have narrowed considerably this summer. Morgan Rogers completed a £117 million move to Chelsea, Vinicius Junior opted to remain at Real Madrid, Gabriel Martinelli has agreed a switch to Al-Hilal, and Gabriel Jesus is on the verge of joining Barcelona. The Gunners will be hoping that Barcelona’s pursuit of Jesus closes the door on Alvarez’s preferred destination and prompts a rethink.

Whether Alvarez’s position softens now that a move to the Catalan club appears increasingly unlikely remains the central question as the transfer deadline approaches. Atletico’s move for David signals they are preparing for life without him regardless of how that question is answered.