CITY ASKED ABOUT ALVAREZ. HE SAID NO BEFORE AN OFFER ARRIVED

Manchester City explored the possibility of bringing Julian Alvarez back and contacted Atletico Madrid about his situation. The enquiry did not develop into an offer. The Argentine reportedly rejected the idea of returning to England immediately. Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus has been offered to Atletico. Barcelona’s door remains firmly locked, but the corridor outside it is becoming rather crowded.

According to Cadena SER, City approached Atletico to ask about Alvarez and the conditions of a possible transfer. Before the English club could submit a formal proposal, the striker made it clear that he did not want to return.

Alvarez is reportedly unwilling to move back to Manchester or England. He had already responded similarly to Arsenal’s interest. Barcelona remain his preferred destination, creating an unusual deadlock: the player has chosen the one club Atletico refuse even to negotiate with.

A return to City would have made sense from a footballing perspective. Alvarez spent two seasons there, scoring 36 goals in 103 appearances and winning six trophies, including two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Champions League. Those numbers were confirmed by City in their official announcement of his 2024 departure.

He knows the club, the league and much of the environment. None of that has changed his answer. City checked whether a reunion was possible and received a rejection before reaching the stage at which figures might have been discussed.

Atletico’s position on Barcelona has not softened. Chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin publicly insisted that his club would not negotiate with the Spanish champions “under any circumstances”. He did acknowledge that Atletico would seek another solution if Alvarez decided he could no longer remain in Madrid. Apparently, almost any destination would qualify as a solution, provided it is not Barcelona. His comments were reported by The Guardian.

That is where Gabriel Jesus enters the story. Matteo Moretto reported on DAZN Transfer that the Arsenal forward has been offered to Atletico. The London club would reportedly consider selling him for approximately €18–20 million, with his contract due to expire in June 2027.

For now, this is only an opportunity presented to Atletico. There is no confirmation that negotiations have begun or that Jesus has been selected to replace Alvarez. Moretto explained that the Spanish club are looking at attacking options regardless of the Argentine’s eventual outcome. DAZN published the details of the reported proposal.

Jesus’ situation at Arsenal makes a departure possible. Mikel Arteta has admitted that the size of his squad is affecting selection decisions, while refusing to discuss the reports involving Alvarez. Reuters noted that any departures would depend on an agreement between all parties.

The two developments therefore concern the same position, but there is no reliable evidence that they form part of an exchange or one combined operation. City asked about Alvarez and were turned down. Jesus was offered to Atletico, who are assessing their options.

Barcelona remain Alvarez’s preferred choice. Unfortunately, a player choosing a club does not complete a transfer when his employers treat that club’s name like a blocked number. Atletico can listen to City, Arsenal and probably most of Europe. Calls from Catalonia still appear to go straight to voicemail.