Transfer this summer? 

©TM/IMAGO

Julián Alvarez dominated much of the pre-match talk ahead of Atlético Madrid’s Champions League semi-final against Arsenal and the Argentinian was heavily involved in the first-leg. The 26-year-old was culpable for failing to hold the ball up in the build up to Arsenal winning the penalty for Viktor Gyökeres’ opening goal but he made amends in the second half. After a controversial handball decision against Ben White, Alvarez stepped up confidently to smash a clinical finish beyond David Raya. In a major worry for Diego Simeone, Alvarez picked up an injury after a challenge from Eberechi Eze and had to be substituted early in a scare ahead of the second leg in North London next week.

There’s been persistent speculation around Alvarez this season and a potential summer transfer with Simeone specifically addressing links to their Champions League opponents. Pressed about Arsenal’s interest, Simeone said: “I’m not inside Julian Alvarez’s head. It’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona. It’s normal because he’s very good.” Alvarez’s spotkick was his 20th goal of the season in all competitions and it was also a landmark goal for Atletico in the Champions League.

Julián Alvarez makes Atlético Madrid history

Alvarez’s goal against Arsenal was his tenth in the competition this season and it made him the first Atletico player in history to hit double figures in a Champions League campaign. The former Manchester City’s goal against Barcelona in the quarter-final earned him the outright record for an Atletico player in a single season.

As the graphic above illustrates, Diego Costa netted eight times in the 2013/14 season when Atleti reached the final before losing to Real Madrid. Alvarez also netted seven goals in the Champions League in ten games during the 2024/25 season, which has only been matched by Antoine Griezmann in 2015/16. The Argentinian will be crucial to the Spanish giants’ hopes of reaching the final and his future will likely be a major talking point during the summer transfer window.