Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez is Atletico Madrid's first choice to replace Alvaro Morata if the Spanish captain joins AC Milan this summer, sources have told ESPN.
Alvarez, 24, has scored 36 goals in 103 games since joining the Premier League champions in the summer of 2022 from River Plate but has failed to break into the starting XI due to the presence of Erling Haaland.
A 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina and newly crowned Copa America champion, Alvarez was recently questioned about his future and while he insisted he is happy at City, he also added: “We'll see.”
Sources told ESPN that Atleti are aware that City will not make things easy for them and so they have not ruled out a loan move.
Álvarez wants more minutes and Atlético are happy to have him as one of the pillars of coach Diego Simeone's new project. According to ESPN, Atlético have considered different alternatives to reinforce their offensive line after the club announced the departure of Dutch striker Memphis Depay.
Girona's Artem Dovbyk and Villarreal's Alexander Sørloth are among the players who Red and white have monitored in recent months.
However, sources close to ESPN have confirmed that Atletico are willing to make a financial effort to sign Alvarez if Morata leaves the club this summer. Other sources have confirmed to ESPN that Morata has already reached a personal agreement with Milan, but has not yet formally signed a contract.
Morata's future at Atletico has been in doubt in recent weeks following reports that the former Chelsea striker was close to signing for Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah. Morata, 31, rejected the offer and declared his love for Atletico on social media. However, sources have told ESPN that Morata has decided to leave and continue his career at AC Milan.
Sources also told ESPN that Atletico have not been informed of that decision, but the Spanish club are aware that AC Milan can land Morata if they meet the player's 15 million euro ($16 million) release clause.
Although Atletico could make room for striker Samu Omorodion, who impressed during a season-long loan at Deportivo Alaves, Simeone has chosen Alvarez as the ideal No.9 to lead the attack.
The next few days will be crucial for Morata's future. Once it is decided that Morata is leaving, the Red and white The Catalan club will activate a plan to try to sign Álvarez. Morata, for his part, left a message on social media about his intentions in response to a fan who criticised him for his possible departure from Atlético.
“Now I can't leave and yet later [the Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Borussia] “Dortmund, everyone wanted me to leave,” he wrote and then deleted.
Morata, who spent two seasons on loan at Juventus from Atletico before returning in the summer of 2022, recently complained that he was given no respect from the media and fans in Spain.
