Diego Simeone makes telling Julian Alvarez transfer admission amid Arsenal and Barcelona links for Atletico Madrid star

The 25-year-old swapped Manchester City for Atletico last summer in a fee worth up to £82 million ($111m), and since then, he has proven to be an excellent acquisition. Arsenal and Barcelona have been credited with interest in the Argentine, and now manager Simeone has said it is "only logical" that big sides are sniffing around the striker.

On the Alvarez transfer interest, Simeone told La Nacion: "It’s logical, I can’t imagine any other scenario. Julian is 25 years old, he’s an extraordinary player, with hunger, with enthusiasm, with humility, with work, with goals, with status. How could everyone not want him? And Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool… the best have to want him. And for us, Atletico fans, it should be a source of pride that everyone wants him. Why? Because he’s ours. And since he’s ours, we have to take care of him. We have to help him feel happy. How will he feel happy? By winning. And to get there, we all have to give 110 per cent. And not just for him, of course, but for everyone."

Alvarez justified his big-money move to Atletico after scoring 29 goals and adding five assists this season. Arsenal icon Thierry Henry believes the ex-City ace would be an ideal signing for Mikel Arteta's men, while Barca are looking for a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski. But if he does go, it will not be on the cheap.

Argentina international Alvarez, who is said to have a €500m (£420m/$570m) release clause, is currently preparing for Atletico's Club World Cup campaign in the United States, which gets underway this weekend.