Julian Alvarez to Barcelona Move Now Considered ‘Impossible’
FC Barcelona now regard a move for Julian Alvarez as “impossible”, according to reports on Thursday, in a blow to the LaLiga champions’ summer search for a new striker. The Atletico Madrid and Argentina forward had been the Blaugrana’s top target to replace the departed Robert Lewandowski, but Atleti’s refusal to sell has left the Catalans exploring alternatives.
Why the Julian Alvarez deal has stalled
Barça’s opening offer of around €100m was rebuffed by Atletico, who have insisted throughout the window that the 26-year-old is not for sale. Sporting director Deco even travelled to Madrid this week to meet the player’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, but Barça Universal reported, citing Matteo Moretto on Radio MARCA, that the club now consider the pursuit a lost cause. It has become the defining thread of Barça’s summer transfer business, a search sharpened by Lewandowski’s exit and Frenkie de Jong’s World Cup knee injury.
Alvarez is understood to be keen on the switch and, once he returns to training next week, may again make his desire to leave clear in a bid to pressure Atletico. For now, though, the Rojiblancos have not budged, and Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport reports Barça continue to prioritise a striker regardless of their advanced move for Rodri.
With Alvarez looking beyond reach, Barcelona have already seen other forward options slip away: Joao Pedro is set to sign a new Chelsea contract, Eli Junior Kroupi is sidelined by injury and Fisnik Asllani is bound for RB Leipzig. Attention now turns to who Deco pivots to next.
