Julián Álvarez's name is making waves in the offices of FC Barcelona. The Argentine forward, who currently plays for Atlético de Madrid, has sparked deep interest among the blaugrana board. For months, his performance and style have fit perfectly with Hansi Flick's footballing vision.
Álvarez joined the Colchonero club after a multi-million transfer from Manchester City. The cost of the deal exceeded €90 million, significantly raising the bar for future offers. Nevertheless, in Barcelona, they believe it's not impossible and are already considering different ways to approach his signing.
A desired but complicated target
Julián Álvarez's arrival at Barça wouldn't be easy from a financial standpoint. The club is going through a period of economic adjustment where every operation must be justified down to the last detail. In this scenario, Deco is working with two possible routes to try to fulfill this long-standing blaugrana desire.
One of the options involves making one or more major sales during the summer of 2025. The names Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araújo are being considered as possible sacrifices to generate income. However, Flick considers them essential, which makes an immediate decision of this kind difficult.
Faced with this obstacle, Barça's sporting management is considering a second option: postponing the deal until the summer of 2026. According to José Álvarez on El Chiringuito, this is the scenario most favored by the Catalan board. It would allow time to clean up the accounts and structure a more solid financial plan.
During that period, they would seek to secure other key income through sponsorships, the sale of minor assets, or progress with Espai Barça. It would also allow for greater clarity regarding the Argentine player's contract status at Atlético. The idea is clear: if it can't happen now, it will happen later.
The Messi connection, a key factor
In addition to the economic aspect, there are personal factors that could facilitate the forward's future arrival at Barça. His strong relationship with Leo Messi is seen as a positive by the blaugrana environment. In several interviews, he has expressed his admiration for the Rosario native and his fondness for the blaugrana club.
Jota Jordi, also a contributor to the same program, confirmed that Julián has always had the idea of wearing the blaugrana jersey in mind. This predisposition is key, as it reduces the risk that he would prioritize other offers if the time comes. Deco himself believes this harmony could be decisive in finalizing the deal.
José Álvarez revealed the most relevant point: Barça won't formally consider the signing until the summer of 2026. It's an internal decision that responds to the need to do things right, without forcing resources. Meanwhile, Álvarez will remain linked to Atlético, where he has a current contract and growing prominence.
However, the interest hasn't ceased or cooled; on the contrary, it remains very much on the blaugrana radar. The strategy is long-term, calm, but without losing sight of the footballer. The club believes his profile is ideal to lead the attack when the right time comes.
Barça's board is convinced that Julián Álvarez can define an era if he arrives at the right moment. The current priority is to stabilize the economy and prepare the ground to make a move in 2026. If everything goes as planned, the Argentine will be one of the most desired signings by the blaugrana fans.