Julian Alvarez’s €500million release clause is more complicated than it appears, GIVEMESPORT understands.

The Argentinian international, on duty with his nation at the 2026 World Cup, which starts in Mexico on Thursday, is understood to have had a whopping €500million release clause inserted into his contract when he signed from Manchester City in 2024.

There are provisions for certain Champions League clubs, including Barcelona, to sign Alvarez at a number south of €150million.

Alvarez wants to join Barcelona and the LaLiga champions have already seen a €100million bid rejected.

Atletico Madrid stance on Alvarez sale is clear

Atletico Madrid responded by trolling Barcelona on social media and maintain the Argentine striker is not for sale. The club deny any active negotiations and still point to the €500million clause.

26-year-old Alvarez remains contracted until 2030 leaving Atleti in a strong position, but club CEO Miguel Ángel Gil and former sporting director Andrea Berta put in provisions for Alvarez to leave for a lower number than his official release clause when he joined from Manchester City in 2024.

Alvarez has gone on to score 49 goals in 106 appearances, including 20 last season in all competitions.

Atleti have been left angered by Barcelona’s public pursuit of Alvarez and dispute club-to-club talks are ongoing. Yet Alvarez has made it clear to the club he would like to leave, with Barcelona his firm preference.

​​​​​​​Arsenal have a number of other attacking options

In January, now Arsenal sporting director Berta made some informal calls. Alvarez is a dream target for Arsenal this summer. Manager Mikel Artet is intent on adding attacking reinforcements to his Premier League title-winning squad, with Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers other options.

Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for Alvarez in recent days by Spanish media and there is growing noise around Barcelona’s transfer vials entering the race.

Yet Alvarez’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, was recently asked about Real Madrid by Mundo Deportivo and replied: “We have no information on the matter and no one has contacted us about it.”

Alvarez and Argentina do not start their World Cup defence until the early hours of Wednesday morning (UK time) when they take on Algeria in their first group game.

European giants Real Madrid have made contact with Arsenal about signing a top star this summer for Jose Mourinho, according to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Gunners secured the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester City, while they suffered defeat in the Champions League final on penalties against back-to-back champions Paris Saint-Germain, in a hugely successful season.

But after two trophyless campaigns at the Bernabeu, the Spanish side are looking to strengthen their squad, and new manager Mourinho has made one north London star a key target.

Real Madrid Make Call to Arsenal for Calafiori

Sky Sports report that Real Madrid have made a phone call to Arsenal about securing a deal to sign defender Riccardo Calafiori this summer.

Calafiori, who has been described as ‘unpredictable’ by Mikel Arteta, has been a regular for Arsenal this season playing at left-back but has seen injuries have an effect on him in recent campaigns, and he started the Champions League final on the bench behind Piero Hincapie.

Mourinho has identified the defence as an area of the Madrid side that needs strengthening, and feels that Calafiori’s ability to play at left-back and centre-back would be a huge benefit to his side.

The club have made a call to London to discover if a deal is possible, and after initial contact there is a possibility of opening negotiations to take the 24-year-old to the Bernabeu. No fee has been mentioned at this stage, but talks are expected to be led by Alessandro Lucci, who played a major role in taking Calafiori to Arsenal in the first place.

Real Madrid Usually Get Their Man

While Arsenal are in a very strong position when it comes to negotiating or demanding a high fee, it’s well known that when Real Madrid want to sign someone, they usually find a way to get a deal done.

Calafiori is a top talent, but injuries have certainly been a concern during his time at the Emirates. Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly have both shown that they are more than capable of playing in the left-back role too, so if they can get a big fee in for him, then it may be worth considering.

With that said, if they decide that there is no deal worth doing for them, then keeping him means they will still have one of the best around in their squad, so they really are in a no-lose situation at this point.

Kim Kardashian, as expected, drew plenty of attention during her first appearance at a Formula One event as she supported her partner Lewis Hamilton at the Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend.

The famous media personality and model faced strong backlash over the weekend for some of her behaviour. Her biggest mistake, in the eyes of many F1 fans, was brushing off legendary interviewer Martin Brundle.

Brundle always tries his best to have a word with the biggest figures around at any given F1 event. However, that doesn’t always fit into the desires of celebrities and well-known figures. The Sky Sports interviewer approached Kardashian, but was given the cold shoulder despite his best efforts.

Expert Gives Take on Kim Kardashian Snubbing F1 Legend

Jakub Porzycki via Reuters

Following the awkward paddock encounter, body language expert Darren Stanton has given his educated opinion on exactly why the American star was reluctant to get involved.

Stanton, who considers himself a ‘human lie detector’, pointed out to OLGB (via Irish Star) that a man appears from the right of the screen to whisper something to Kim. He said:

His conclusion was that she was told not to engage with any media, as he continued: “I would suspect she was told not to speak to the media, whether it’s Lewis Hamilton or somebody else, I’m just surmising this based on the interactions that I saw and also her reaction because body language-wise, she was walking towards Martin.”

Kardashian moved in a way that initially suggested she was open to a conversation with Brundle despite looking a bit awkward and confused. However, the whisper in her ear appeared to change that completely.

Stanton added: “Her body posture was pointed towards him as if she was going to speak to him, but then as soon as that guy came into shots and whispered in her ear, if you notice, she turned her posture back towards the direction she was going.

“That would be consistent with her body language and her reaction, because initially she appeared as though she was going to speak to Martin Brundle, and then it wasn’t until he came into shot, which interrupted her pattern.”

Kardashian Was ‘Keeping Her Head Down’ at Monaco GP

Jakub Porzycki via Reuters

While some people may think it was a case of celebrity arrogance, or even ‘nervousness’, Stanton believes the star of ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ was simply trying to stay out of the spotlight and allow Hamilton the attention instead.

He concluded: “I just think she was downplaying herself. If anything, I don’t think she was playing to the cameras. Some may say that’s nervousness, but I personally think she was just downplaying her presence to the press and the paparazzi, keeping her head down, she wasn’t engaging with the press to make sure she doesn’t hijack Lewis’ limelight because, obviously, he’s the main man.”