Barcelona’s search for a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski keeps circling back to the same name. But the chances that Julián Álvarez will leave Atlético Madrid and join their league rivals are looking remote.
According to Diario SPORT, Atlético have already taken a firm internal position: if Álvarez leaves the club, it will not be for Barcelona. The capital club are determined to keep hold of the Argentine striker and are particularly unwilling to strengthen a direct rival. That stance has
grown stronger in recent days after the player’s comments about his future. Following Atlético’s 5-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, Álvarez was asked whether he could guarantee he would still be at the club next season.
“I don’t know. It could be yes, it could be no, you never know,” he said. “But I’m very happy here. I get asked a question and then it ends up everywhere. I’m happy and focused on the present.”
Those remarks were not well received at his club, according to reports in Spain. Atléti believe the speculation around Barcelona has been building for weeks and are said to be frustrated with the noise surrounding their striker.
Atlético’s position is backed by the player’s contract situation. Álvarez is tied to the club until 2030 and has a €500 million release clause. Rumors suggest that they want to build around him as one of the central figures of their project.
If any exit were to happen, it would likely involve a different destination. According to reports, Atlético would only listen to offers that approach €150 million and those are expected, if they arrive, to come from the Premier League. Clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea have been mentioned as potential suitors.
Barcelona, for their part, have less wiggle room financially. The club hopes to return to La Liga’s 1:1 spending rule this summer, which would allow them to reinvest all the money they generate or save. Even in that scenario, however, the budget for a new center-forward has already been set, according to reports. The plan is not to exceed €100 million in total for the next number nine, including bonuses and variables. That figure effectively rules out a deal for Álvarez under the current conditions. If Atléti are steadfast about their valuation and their desire not to sell to a club from La Liga, they potentially hold all the cards and can refuse Barcelona.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta addressed the topic recently, praising the Argentine but making it clear that will not enter an open-ended bidding war.
“Julián Álvarez is an excellent player who, they say, would fit perfectly into Barça’s system,” Laporta said. “But he’s not a player you should pay a fortune for. First he should show the desire to come, which is what we want from all players we might be interested in, and it would have to be at a reasonable price. As things stand, the asking price is unreasonable.”
