Barcelona have made a formal bid of €100 million for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, a move that has sparked a public dispute between the two La Liga clubs. The offer, confirmed by sources at Mundo Deportivo, arrives as Barcelona seek a replacement for the departing Robert Lewandowski.
Alvarez, 26, has become a priority target for the Catalan side, though Atletico have reportedly placed a valuation exceeding €100 million on the Argentina international. Interest also exists from Premier League side Arsenal and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, but Barcelona are the first to make a concrete offer.
Atletico Madrid swiftly denied receiving a legitimate bid, dismissing Barcelona’s claim as “just another lie.” Instead of a formal response, the club launched a social media campaign mocking both Barcelona and journalist Fabrizio Romano, who initially reported the offer. A sarcastic post on X detailed a ‘transfer offer’ consisting of concert tickets, a magazine subscription, and sunflower seeds.
The animosity extends beyond playful jabs, with Atletico referencing Barcelona’s ongoing Negreira case, involving accusations of corruption related to refereeing, and questioning the club’s ability to afford the €100 million fee given recent financial concerns surrounding player registrations. These actions have reportedly angered Barcelona officials, who are determined to focus on securing the transfer.
Alvarez has reportedly informed his agent, Fernando Hidalgo, of his desire to leave Atletico Madrid. Hidalgo met with Barcelona officials last Wednesday to discuss a potential move, and has communicated the player’s openness to joining the club. In an interview with France Football last November, Alvarez acknowledged the speculation linking him with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, stating he remained focused on Atletico but would evaluate his options at the end of the season.
Alvarez is currently under contract with Atletico until 2030, with a release clause of €500 million. This means Barcelona will likely need to significantly increase their initial offer to convince Atletico to part with the forward. The situation threatens to become increasingly fraught as Barcelona push for a deal, potentially damaging the relationship between the two Spanish giants.
