Diego Simeone sends message to Arsenal over Julian Alvarez transfer

Atletico Madrid have ruled out the prospect of selling Julian Alvarez this summer (Getty)

Diego Simeone insists Atletico Madrid have no plans to sell Julian Alvarez to Arsenal or Barcelona this summer.

Arsenal are aiming to land a marquee signing to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attacking options ahead of the new season but have missed out on Vinicius Junior, who opted to renew his contract with Real Madrid this week.

Arteta has been a long-term admirer of Alvarez and Arsenal have explored the possibility of signing the Argentina international this summer.

Alvarez, meanwhile, made his feelings clear during Argentina’s World Cup campaign as he has told Atletico that he wants to leave before the end of the transfer window.

‘I spoke with the people I needed to speak with and the best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream,’ Alvarez said after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in June.

Barcelona are understood to be Alvarez’s preferred destination but Atletico have been angered by Barca’s public pursuit of the 26-year-old and are refusing to negotiate with their La Liga rivals.

Julian Alvarez has told Atletico Madrid he wants to leave before the end of the transfer window (Getty)

Simeone has now doubled down on Atletico’s firm stance during his press conference in Seoul on Saturday.

‘The situation is very clear, the club made a decision that Miguel Angel [Gil Marin] explained very well,’ Simeone said.

‘From the sporting side, we are very happy to have a player like Julian, and from a sporting perspective we will help him to continue growing, to continue improving, and to give us back what he has given us over these two years, which was a great deal.

‘We have some precedents, we already saw what happened with Griezmann, I don’t see any other way than to work from a sporting perspective as we have to and try to help as we have done these past two years.’

Speaking last month, Atletico president, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, insisted that the only way for Barcelona to sign Alvarez this summer would be to activate the Argentine’s €500 million (£428.5m) release clause.