Atletico Madrid confident Julian Alvarez will stay

Atletico Madrid confident Julian Alvarez will stay Atletico Madrid expect Julian Alvarez to stay beyond deadline day and return to full training, despite continued Arsenal interest. Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images Atletico Madrid are increasingly confident that Julian Alvarez will remain at the club beyond the final few days of the transfer window, despite continued interest from Arsenal . The Argentina forward has been the subject of speculation for much of the summer, with Arsenal among his strongest admirers, but Atletico’s public position has not changed, nor has the player’s personal desire to join Barcelona . Mateu Alemany , Atletico’s director of men’s football, was asked whether he expected Alvarez still to be at the club when the market closes in a few days. He said , “We have been very clear and forceful, there was a public statement from the Board of Directors, Miguel Angel Gil has said it repeatedly, clearly and forcefully [that they will not sell to Barcelona]. I refer to them.” Alemany then set out Atletico’s immediate plan for Alvarez, after the forward missed three team training sessions while reportedly feeling ‘unwell’. “The plan is very clear,” he said. “He had a few days when he did not feel well. Yesterday he trained and we hope he reintegrates with the group quickly and is available for the next league match. We all talk to him a lot. Normality.” Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images Alvarez did not take part in group training on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday , but reportedly remained in contact with the club’s medical department. He returned to the training ground on Friday afternoon to work with a fitness coach and continued that work at Majadahonda on Saturday while his team-mates were in Seville . Atletico expect the 26-year-old to rejoin the main group at their next session, and Diego Simeone has also made clear that Alvarez remains central to his plans. “From the moment he returns to training, I will do everything possible to make him feel important,” Simeone said. Alvarez has reportedly told  Mikel Arteta  that he does not want to join Arsenal this summer. The forward’s preference is still Barcelona while post-Brexit visa problems for his family have been reported as the main reason he does not want to return to England.