Could Julian Alvarez be Madrid-bound now that Argentina is out of the Olympics? | OneFootball

While Manchester City prepare for their final pre-season friendly against Chelsea in the United States later tonight transfer speculation has rumbled away all week. This week has seen that speculation shift to the future of City striker Julian Alvarez. But could the Argentinian international be Madrid-bound this summer? A new report suggests that Atletico Madrid are pushing hard to sign the World Cup winner.

Jason Pettigrove has reported for CaughtOffside that Atletico Madrid is in negotiations with the agent of Julian Alvarez. Furthermore, Pettigrove reports that Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has personally spoken to Alvarez to convince him that his future lies at Atletico Madrid. Lastly, Pettigrove adds that City have set an asking price of £80 million for their versatile hitman.

Will Manchester City sell Julian Alvarez if a club matches their asking price?

Based on Jason Pettigrove’s report, Atletico Madrid appears to be pushing hard to sign Alvarez. If they can agree on personal terms with the City striker it may set the scene for him to depart Manchester City this summer.

As it stands Alvarez is yet to decide on his future. Given that Argentina only went out of the Olympics yesterday a decision by the striker may not be on the immediate horizon. But even if Julian Alvarez does decide he wants to move clubs this summer will Manchester City sell? They are under no financial pressure to sell the striker. Plus, we have seen in previous years with Bernardo Silva that despite a player’s reported wish to leave, the champions do keep hold of important players. Julian Alvarez may be a player who follows a similar path to that of Bernardo. He plays an important role for Pep Guardiola and the champions won’t want to be scrambling to find a replacement late in the transfer window.

But if Julian Alvarez wishes to leave and Atletico Madrid can match City’s asking price, that could test the champion’s resolve. The future of Alvarez is fast becoming City’s biggest story of the remaining weeks of the transfer window. It seems that Atletico Madrid are pushing hard with their move to sign Alvarez. The striker could potentially be Madrid-bound but there is a lot left to play out before that possibility becomes a reality.