Alvarez's new agent has Barcelona ties, complicating Arsenal's pursuit
Julian Alvarez has reportedly parted ways with the agent who represented him since he was 15, a change that comes after his failed attempt to engineer a move to Barcelona during the last transfer window. The shake up in his representation has reignited questions over whether Arsenal could find an opening to sign the Atletico Madrid striker.
Arsenal monitored Alvarez ahead of the previous window, hoping he might be open to a move to north London. The Argentine, however, was reportedly set on Barcelona, which made it difficult for Arsenal to put themselves forward as a serious alternative.
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Barcelona remains the preferred destination
Barcelona attempted to sign Alvarez over the summer, but Atletico Madrid refused to sell their forward to a direct domestic rival. That left Alvarez at the club, where he has struggled for form since the start of the season.
Despite those struggles, Atletico reportedly want to keep hold of Alvarez and would rather sell him to Arsenal than strengthen Barcelona if a sale does become necessary. Even so, the player's own preference for a move to Catalonia remains the biggest obstacle standing in the way of any rival suitor, Arsenal included.
Any renewed Arsenal interest would likely hinge on Atletico's willingness to negotiate and, just as importantly, on convincing Alvarez himself that a move to England represents the right next step in his career.
New representation adds a wrinkle
After dismissing his long time agent, Alvarez reportedly took time to weigh up his options as several representatives made contact. He has now settled on a replacement who could shape the next chapter of his career.
According to Team Talk, Alvarez has chosen Pablo Barquero as his new agent, with confirmation of the appointment expected soon. Barquero also represents Rodri and was involved in arranging his summer switch to Barcelona, a deal completed despite Real Madrid reportedly believing they were close to landing him themselves.
That track record will not be welcome reading for Arsenal. Given Alvarez's existing preference for Barcelona, the choice of agent could point towards the striker still searching for a route to the Catalan club, though his true intentions cannot be confirmed from the appointment alone.
For Arsenal, the situation leaves any renewed pursuit of Alvarez dependent on whether his priorities shift in the coming months. Atletico's stance on a sale and the player's own ambitions will remain the key factors determining where his future lies, with Arsenal watching from the outside for now.
