Barcelona has identified Julian Alvarez, the star striker of Atletico Madrid, as a top priority for the upcoming summer transfer window. While a deal is expected to be challenging due to Atletico’s current reluctance to sell, there’s a possibility for an agreement to be reached in the coming months.
Barcelona is not willing to exceed €100 million for a new striker, a sum currently insufficient for Atletico to consider selling. Consequently, Barcelona has informed Alvarez that for any transfer to materialize, he must explicitly state his desire to depart the Civitas Metropolitano.
According to Cadena SER (via Sport), indications suggest that Alvarez might be seeking an exit this summer, a sentiment that Atletico Madrid’s hierarchy reportedly believes he has held for several weeks.
Club officials are also aware that discussions have occurred between Alvarez’s representatives and several clubs, including Barcelona. Paris Saint-Germain has also expressed interest in a potential summer move, and Arsenal is reportedly in contention alongside other clubs in the Champions League.
Atleti Won’t Make It Easy for Alvarez to Leave
Even if Alvarez communicates his intention to leave this summer, Atletico’s stance is unlikely to soften significantly. They are seeking substantial financial compensation to even consider the possibility, which could present difficulties for Barcelona in their pursuit of replacing Lewandowski.
The unfolding situation with Alvarez in the coming weeks and months will be closely watched. His chances of departing increase if he officially expresses a desire to move on, but as of now, no formal communication has been made to the club’s leadership.
