Barcelona are anticipating Julian Alvarez will soon publicly state his desire to leave Atletico Madrid and join the Catalan club this summer, according to reports in Spain. The La Liga side have identified the Argentinian forward as their top target ahead of the 2026-27 season, with president Joan Laporta confirming an offer has already been submitted, though it was rejected by Atletico.
The situation has become increasingly tense between the two Spanish clubs, with Atletico maintaining Alvarez is not for sale. They reportedly turned down a substantial €150 million (£130m) bid from Real Madrid in June. However, Alvarez himself indicated his willingness to depart Atletico during the World Cup in June, stating he wants to “fulfil his dream” through a transfer, though he did not specify Barcelona as his preferred destination at that time.
Arsenal have also been linked with Alvarez, with BBC Sport reporting a long-standing interest from the Premier League side, who view him as one of the world’s best strikers. Diario AS reports that Barcelona are now expecting Alvarez to increase the pressure on Atletico by making a formal request to leave. Alvarez is currently under contract with Atletico until 2030, with a release clause valued at €500 million (£426.8m).
Speaking after Argentina’s World Cup victory over Austria, Alvarez stated he had discussed his future with the necessary parties at Atletico and that a transfer was the best outcome for all involved. He reiterated his desire to pursue his ambitions, acknowledging that his wish to leave was not a secret. Barcelona are actively seeking a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who departed the club following the expiration of his contract to join Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer on a free transfer.
Arsenal’s own attacking plans were recently disrupted after missing out on Morgan Rogers, who opted to join Chelsea from Aston Villa in a club-record €138 million (£117m) deal. Alvarez’s potential move to Barcelona could fill a significant void in their attack, while his departure would leave Atletico needing to find a suitable replacement for one of their key players.
