Julian Alvarez don find himself for inside wahala after Atletico Madrid fans boo am for their 2-2 draw with Villarreal on Sunday. The Argentina striker, wey don talk say im want leave the club, see im own supporters turn against am. And with Arsenal and Barcelona dey look for im side, the question na whether this booing go make the move nearer.
Alvarez don make im desire clear say im want join Barcelona, but Arsenal still dey interested to bring am back to Premier League. Atletico, however, don put their foot down, saying dem no go sell am to any club. The club even release statement wey accuse Barcelona of running a “relentless smear campaign” against one of their players.
For the match, fans dey whistle and boo when dem read Alvarez name for team list. Even though im start for bench, the jeers continue when im enter pitch for 66th minute. After the final whistle, the former Man City man leave the field alone, while im teammates stay behind to clap for the fans.
Diego Simeone, the Atletico coach, tell press say na club decision to keep Alvarez away from the stands and fans. “People at the club told me that the club decided he shouldn’t be near the stands and the fans,” im talk. “The decision was made by the club to keep him away and separate him from the rest of the team.”
But even with the booing, Arsenal supporters no suppose get too much hope. The deal still look very unlikely before September 1. The main reason na say Alvarez im heart don set for Barcelona. Also, Atletico still dey refuse to sell am, and Barca no get the money to sign am.
Sky Sports report say Alvarez family want stay for Spain, and im dream na to follow Lionel Messi to star for Barcelona. That one dey make the Arsenal move even harder. Plus, Atletico want around 150 million euros, but Arsenal no get habit to pay that kind money for players from abroad.
According to Goal, Atletico no go let Alvarez leave for less than 150 million euros. Arsenal, for all their money, no dey pay big sum for foreign players. Their biggest deal for La Liga player na about 70 million euros. The tax system for England also make the deal no sweet for Arsenal.
Pundits like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher still believe say if Arsenal sign Alvarez, dem go become serious contenders for Champions League. Neville talk say “What a squad Mikel Arteta has built. If they could get Julian Alvarez somehow, that would light this place up.” But Arteta and Andrea Berta no get much to do unless Alvarez change im mind.
Arsenal still dey happy with their squad after beating Coventry 3-0 for opening day. But with just over a week left for transfer window, anything fit happen. Barcelona no go give up too, and dem fit make another push to test Atletico resolve. But for now, the whole situation still dey tight for Alvarez.
