Julian Alvarez, Atletico Madrid's star forward, is reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona, according to manager Diego Simeone. The 26-year-old has scored 48 goals in 104 games for Atletico since his £82m move from Manchester City, where he helped secure back-to-back Premier League titles and the 2022/23 treble. Simeone confirmed the speculation during a press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg, stating, "It's normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona." He added, "I'm not inside Julian Alvarez's head," but emphasized his importance to Atletico's setup.

The Argentine international, who won the 2022 World Cup with his national team, has missed Atletico's last two matches due to a minor injury but is expected to return for the Arsenal game. Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta, who facilitated Alvarez's transfer from Manchester City, is reportedly familiar with the player. Sky Sports News noted Arsenal's plans to target a forward, midfielder, and full-back in the summer, with Alvarez emerging as a key target. Atletico Madrid's manager highlighted the player's exceptional form, calling him "very good" and a natural draw for top clubs.