Alvarez booed by Atletico fans amid Arsenal interest - so will he leave?

Julian Alvarez was booed by his own Atletico Madrid supporters during Sunday's draw with Villarreal; Arsenal and Barcelona are both interested in the Argentine - who wants to leave Atleti to join the Catalan club; does Alvarez being booed increase his chances of joining Arsenal instead?

Julian Alvarez was booed by Atletico Madrid supporters on Sunday after all the transfer window noise around him - does that mean a move to Barcelona or Arsenal is any closer?

The Argentine forward cut a disappointed figure when his own fans turned on him during Atleti's 2-2 draw with Villarreal.

And with Arsenal and Barcelona circling ahead of the September 1 deadline, what will happen now? Here is a state of play about the forward's future...

Alvarez played his first Atletico Madrid match on Sunday after revealing his desire to leave the club during the World Cup.

The Argentine striker wants to leave Diego Simeone's side to join Barcelona. However, Arsenal are also interested in bringing the former Man City striker back to the Premier League.

Barcelona want Alvarez but earlier this summer, Atletico accused the Catalan club of building a "relentless smear campaign" regarding the forward.

"Over the past few months, we've been subjected to a relentless smear campaign against one of our players," wrote Atleti on X.

"Calculated leaks, fake news, constant disrespect, the culé version of the propaganda machine inventing little stories, phone calls before head-to-head clashes.

"But of course, it would never occur to us either to have the vice president of referees on the payroll or to rely on political favours to register players. Respect and values."

With Alvarez wanting to join one of Atleti's closest rivals, the forward was greeted by whistles, boos and jeers from the Atletico Madrid fans on his return to action for the club.

His named was booed as the Atleti team was read out - and Alvarez was sat on the substitutes bench when the first jeers of the afternoon were made. They continued when Alvarez entered the pitch on the 66th minute.

After the game, the Argentina international left the field on his own after the 2-2 home league draw against Villarreal, while his team-mates stayed behind to applaud the fans.

Asked about the situation, Simeone said in his post-match press conference: "People at the club told me that the club decided he shouldn't be near the stands and the fans.