Manchester City transfer link emerges as Julian Alvarez misses training, but Arsenal remain in focus

Alvarez absenteeism fuels late-window noise

Julian Alvarez’s name has returned to the centre of the European transfer market after fresh reports in Spain said the Atletico Madrid forward did not take part in team training for a third consecutive day. Marca reported on Friday, August 28, 2026, that Alvarez again stayed away from the main group session at Atletico’s Cerro del Espino base, although the club expected him to work individually later in the day. The newspaper also said his earlier absences had been attributed to illness, which had already stretched the conversation around his immediate future. ([us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/la-liga/2026/08/28/julian-alvarez-vuelve-ausentarse-entrenamiento-atletico-madrid.html?utm_source=openai))

That sequence matters because transfer stories tend to accelerate when a high-profile player is unavailable, even if the underlying reason is medical rather than contractual. In Alvarez’s case, the timing is especially sensitive: he is one of the most closely watched forwards in Europe and a player whose situation has already been the subject of repeated reports this summer. The latest training absence does not by itself prove an imminent move, but it does keep the story alive at a moment when clubs across the top end of the market are still adjusting squads before the deadline. ([us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/la-liga/2026/08/28/julian-alvarez-vuelve-ausentarse-entrenamiento-atletico-madrid.html?utm_source=openai))

Arsenal’s interest remains the clearest transfer thread

Among the clubs linked most persistently with Alvarez, Arsenal have emerged as the most credible suitor in the English press. The Independent reported that the Gunners remain front-runners to sign the Argentina international if Atlético are prepared to listen, while a separate Independent transfer explainer said the club’s admiration for Alvarez has been long-standing. Earlier reports from the same publisher also noted that the forward would welcome a move to Arsenal if his preferred Barcelona switch did not materialise, though that was presented as a transfer market report rather than confirmed fact from the player himself. ([the-independent.com](https://www.the-independent.com/bulletin/sport/julian-alvarez-transfer-update-arsenal-barcelona-atletico-b3041202.html?utm_source=openai))

That is the key distinction in this saga: there is a steady flow of reporting about Arsenal’s position, but no public confirmation from Atletico, Arsenal, or Alvarez that a deal is close. Spanish coverage has repeatedly described the striker’s future as unresolved, and Reuters-cited reporting has noted Atletico’s willingness to stand firm over their valuation and destination preferences. In other words, Arsenal’s pursuit looks real enough to be treated seriously, but it is still subject to several layers of negotiation that could collapse quickly. ([thestar.com.my](https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2026/08/18/soccer-atletico-coach-simeone-to-bench-alvarez-amid-transfer-standoff?utm_source=openai))

Manchester City angle is about leverage, not certainty

The more surprising part of the headline is the suggestion that Manchester City could attempt to “hijack” Arsenal’s move. At present, the stronger evidence supports a more cautious interpretation: City’s name continues to circulate because Alvarez is a former City player, and because major clubs are often mentioned opportunistically in late-window stories when a premium forward becomes available. However, the independent reports available now do not show a confirmed City bid, a concrete offer, or a formal attempt to reclaim the player they sold to Atletico in 2024. ([thestar.com.my](https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2026/08/18/soccer-atletico-coach-simeone-to-bench-alvarez-amid-transfer-standoff?utm_source=openai))

What can be said is that City’s past relationship with Alvarez gives the rumour added traction. Any discussion of a return would naturally draw attention because he was part of their recent setup and still carries elite-value status in the market. But until there is verification from a reliable outlet with direct sourcing, the City angle should be treated as speculative background rather than a developing deal. That is especially important in a crowded transfer market where one club’s interest can be used by another side, an agent, or a media outlet to strengthen negotiating positions. ([us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/la-liga/2026/08/03/julian-alvarez-entrena-atletico.html?utm_source=openai))

What Atletico’s stance suggests

Atletico’s public posture remains the biggest obstacle for any buyer. Reports in Marca have described the club as resisting the idea of losing Alvarez on favorable terms, and The Star, citing Reuters, said the striker has made no secret of his desire to move on while Atletico continue to manage the situation carefully. That combination creates a familiar transfer-market tension: the player’s future is uncertain, but the selling club has no obvious incentive to rush. ([us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/la-liga/2026/08/27/ninguna-negociacion-julian-mensaje-claro-atletico-barca.html?utm_source=openai))

For Atletico, the practical question is whether a temporary absence from training changes anything materially. On the evidence currently available, it does not. Illness explains the missed sessions in the Spanish reporting, and Atletico’s own handling of the issue appears to be one of containment rather than confrontation. If Alvarez resumes full training, the story may cool quickly; if his absence continues, the speculation will naturally intensify, especially with the deadline approaching. ([us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/la-liga/2026/08/26/julian-entrena-indisposicion.html?utm_source=openai))

Why the story matters beyond England and Spain

This is not just another European transfer rumour. Alvarez is a global-name forward whose next move would shape title races in more than one league, and his situation illustrates how quickly modern transfer reporting can spiral when a player is unavailable for even a short period. For readers in Kenya and elsewhere, the bigger lesson is that the most dramatic headlines often arrive before the most important facts are settled. A three-day training absence is real; a transfer hijack is not, at least not yet. ([us.marca.com](https://us.marca.com/soccer/la-liga/2026/08/28/julian-alvarez-vuelve-ausentarse-entrenamiento-atletico-madrid.html?utm_source=openai))

The most defensible conclusion is that Arsenal remain the most consistently reported destination, Atletico are still holding firm, and the Manchester City wrinkle is currently better understood as a market rumor than an established negotiation. Until a club statement, a confirmed bid, or a materially stronger report emerges, this should be treated as an active but unproven transfer story. ([the-independent.com](https://www.the-independent.com/bulletin/sport/julian-alvarez-transfer-update-arsenal-barcelona-atletico-b3041202.html?utm_source=openai))

Editor’s note

This article is based on fresh reporting from Spanish and English-language publishers and avoids repeating unsupported claims from the original lead. Where the reporting is speculative, it is identified as such.

Sources:

• Marca USA
• Marca USA
• The Independent
• The Independent
• The Star / Reuters