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The transfer window has now shut, and Julian Alvarez will stay at Atletico Madrid despite his strong wish to sign for FC Barcelona.

Barcelona pushed hard to bring him in, but met a firm refusal from Atletico Madrid, who showed no intention at any point of negotiating his sale to the La Liga champions.

Arsenal also tried to persuade Alvarez to join them, but the forward ruled out that option and continued to prioritise Barcelona, which meant he ultimately remained at Atleti.

With the market now closed, the story is moving into a new stage, and that is where SPORT journalist David Bernabeu believes matters could become especially interesting.

Speaking during a question-and-answer session on SPORT TV, the journalist indicated that Barcelona’s chase for Alvarez has now taken on a meaning beyond that of a routine transfer negotiation.

Barcelona are not giving up on Alvarez.

“Barcelona will go all out for Julián in the winter. It’s now personal,” he said firmly.

Bernabeu explained that the feeling is not only linked to Atletico Madrid’s uncompromising stance throughout the summer, but also to Alvarez himself and the effort he made in trying to move to Barcelona.

“It’s not just about how Barcelona feel Atlético have handled things, but also about the player himself, who gave everything to try to get to Barcelona,” Bernabeu noted.

The tension first began to rise after Alvarez made his desire to leave Atletico Madrid known during the World Cup.

Atletico then closed ranks around the striker, with CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin especially forceful in ruling out any transfer to Barcelona. He even stated that Alvarez would not be sold to the Catalan club under any circumstances.

A fresh attempt now appears likely in January.

Barcelona, for their part, also spoke publicly about their interest, with Joan Laporta insisting that their offer would remain on the table if Atleti were willing to negotiate.

In the end, Atletico managed to keep the 26-year-old striker, while Barcelona moved for Gabriel Jesus to strengthen their attack after failing to land the Argentine.

Even so, the episode has left a clear impact. Alvarez’s relationship with sections of the Atletico Madrid fanbase has worsened, with the striker already facing whistles and jeers during his appearances for the club.

His future at the Metropolitano may therefore depend heavily on how events unfold over the coming months.

The summer window may have closed, but the Julian Alvarez saga is clearly nowhere near finished.