Diego Simeone confirmed Arsenal are interested in signing Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez ahead of the two teams' Champions League semi-final clash. 

Atleti welcome Mikel Arteta's side to the Metropolitano on Wednesday in the first leg of their final-four encounter, with both eyeing a spot in next month's showpiece in Budapest.

The Colchoneros and Arsenal will meet for just the fourth time in European competition, with half of those coming in this season's Champions League (2/4). 

Arsenal won 4-0 in a league phase meeting last October, which remains Atleti’s joint-heaviest defeat in the competition (lost by four on five occasions).

But ahead of their latest match-up, the talk before kick-off surrounded the future of Alvarez, who is reportedly touted by some of Europe's top clubs for a move this summer. 

The Argentine's nine goals this season are already the most by an Atleti player in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign.

He also leads all players in the 2025-26 edition for total high-intensity pressures (853), as well as the most per 90 (70 – min. 500 minutes played).

Alvarez has registered 65 goal contributions (48 goals, 17 assists) in 104 appearances in competitions since joining Atleti from Manchester City in August 2024, and he is well known to Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta, who oversaw his move to Spain from the Etihad Stadium.