Barcelona have reaffirmed their interest in signing Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez and are planning a new offer, according to reports in Spain. The Catalan club see Alvarez as a key replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who recently completed a move to Chicago Fire on a two-year contract.
Barcelona’s initial verbal proposal of €100 million (£86m) for the 26-year-old was rejected by Atletico Madrid in May, with the club reportedly holding firm and referencing Alvarez’s €500 million (£430.5m) release clause. However, Alvarez himself has publicly expressed his desire to leave the club, stating that a transfer would be “the best thing for everyone” and admitting he wants to fulfil a “dream” move.
The ‘dream’ destination is understood to be Barcelona, despite reported interest from Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain. Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona ‘maintain they will not abandon’ their pursuit of Alvarez and are identifying potential avenues for a deal, noting that some voices within Atletico are open to a sale, though Diego Simeone is reportedly keen to retain his player.
Barcelona are prepared to “pull out all the stops” to secure Alvarez’s signature, suggesting a significantly increased bid is forthcoming. While a figure of €200 million (£172m) has been suggested as a potential selling point for Atletico, such a transfer would present a considerable financial challenge for Barcelona.
To avoid disrupting Alvarez’s involvement in Argentina’s upcoming commitments, Barcelona have reportedly paused their active pursuit for a short period. They are expected to launch a new bid after this cooling-off period, or potentially wait until after the tournament concludes. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hinted at the club’s ambition to sign players who desire a move to the Camp Nou, stating, “Dreams come true if you work and fight for them.” Barcelona have also reportedly considered Harry Kane as an alternative option.
