Álvarez keeps transfer chatter alive as Atlético focus remains
Julián Álvarez, Atlético Madrid's star forward and Argentina international, did not close the door on a move to Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona in the near future, in comments gathered for France Football.
When asked about plans to join PSG or Barça in coming years, the 25-year-old said he did not know. He noted seeing talk about him on Spanish social media, and recalled that when he joined Atlético in 2024 there was significant chatter about PSG.
Álvarez revealed that negotiations did occur between PSG's management and his agent, with the French club showing interest, but nothing concrete materialized. He added that his full focus is on Atlético Madrid and that matters will be reassessed at the end of the season.
He joined Atlético for 75 million euros from Manchester City, after a stint at River Plate in 2022. In the Atlético shirt, he has 38 goals and 12 assists in 71 appearances, while at Manchester City he contributed 36 goals and 19 assists in 103 matches. His River Plate days saw 54 goals and 31 assists in 135 appearances.
So far this season, Álvarez has 9 goals and 5 assists in 17 appearances across all competitions. Atlético sit fourth in La Liga with 22 points, eight behind leaders Real Madrid, under Diego Simeone's management, with 6 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss. In the Champions League, Atlético are 17th after four matchdays, with 2 wins and 2 losses, scoring 10 and conceding 9.
PSG's injury woes and their European tilt persist
Paris Saint-Germain, defending Ligue 1 champions, travel to Lyon on Sunday in hopes of reclaiming top spot, while coping with a painful injury wave that has sidelined several stars and disrupted their season.
Since their domestic loss to Marseille in September, PSG have also dropped a European result, losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich in midweek, a setback that carried a heavy price in personnel: forward Ousmane Dembele, right back Achraf Hakimi, and later left back Nuno Mendes were sidelined, continuing the injury saga that has haunted the squad since last season's continental triumphs.
PSG's 2025-26 season has featured seven league wins and a single defeat to Marseille, with a couple of draws as well. They beat Nantes, Angers, Toulouse, Lens, and Auxerre, while drawing with Lille, Strasbourg, and Brest, and later edging Nice and Lorient, all as part of their bid for a fifth straight domestic title.
In Europe, PSG opened the Champions League campaign with a strong start—beating Atalanta 4-0, Barcelona 2-1, and Bayer Leverkusen 7-2—before a setback against Bayern Munich.
PSG's 2025-2026 season highlights
Seven league wins, one loss to Marseille, two draws; European tally: three wins from four before the Bayern match; they also lifted the UEFA Super Cup after beating Tottenham on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
Punchline 1: If transfer rumors paid rent, Álvarez would own the city by now. Punchline 2: He moves so often between clubs that his passport has more stamps than a referee's notebook.
