Soccer player in a striped jersey in front of the FC Barcelona crest on an orange background.

Barça loses its mind over Julián Álvarez: this will be his salary and his real price

Laporta wants him as an electoral star signing, but the total cost of the deal is extremely high

Camp Nou already has a name highlighted in red to take over from Robert Lewandowski. It's Julián Álvarez, the Argentine forward who, at 25 years old, is experiencing one of the best moments of his career. His contract with Atlético de Madrid makes him a complicated target, but Joan Laporta wants to make him the big electoral move of 2026.

The idea is to present him as the "9" who will lead the new blaugrana era after the Polish striker's departure. At 38 years old when his contract ends, Lewandowski is facing his last season as the offensive reference. Meanwhile, Julián fits the desired profile: young, world champion, and experienced on the biggest European nights.

An operation with sporting and financial obstacles

The arrival of the Argentine wouldn't be a simple transfer, but a top-level strategic move. Atlético aren't willing to let him go for less than what they paid Manchester City. That sets the starting price at an amount that would test blaugrana's finances.

In addition, Barça are still affected by the rules of financial fair play. Although the situation has improved, major signings require a precise fit within the salary cap. In this case, the salary the player is requesting is shaping up to be one of the biggest challenges for the board.

Julián's camp insists that he doesn't want to take a step back in terms of prominence. The experience at Manchester City, competing with Haaland for minutes, taught him to value being an undisputed starter. At Atlético he is, and he won't give up that status unless Barça offer him absolute guarantees.

Laporta sees him as an electoral symbol

The blaugrana president knows that impactful signings generate excitement and votes in an election year. Back in 2021, he tried to make a splash with Messi's return, a move that ultimately didn't materialize. With Julián Álvarez, he sees a similar opportunity: a young player, with media appeal, and the ability to define an era.

In the blaugrana locker room, his possible arrival is discussed as a reinforcement who would fit immediately into Hansi Flick's system. The German coach values his versatility, high pressing, and goal-scoring instinct in the box. The possibility of him playing alongside Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, or Marcus Rashford sparks dreams of an elite forward line.

However, the board knows that closing the deal requires more than convincing the player. Atlético will demand a figure that, according to sources close to the club, won't fall below a very high threshold. In addition, they are considering formulas that include performance and title-based variables, something common in this type of operation.

Julián wants certainties and a star contract

The Argentine's stance is firm: he won't sign for Barça without a guaranteed leading role. He wants to arrive as a starter to lead the attack, and he has made this clear to his camp. He also expects a solid sporting project that guarantees him the chance to compete for every title from day one.

Financially, the amount he will request would place his salary at the very top of the blaugrana locker room. This would necessarily require internal adjustments and the possible departure of players with high salaries. The negotiation, therefore, won't be only with Atlético, but also with the club's financial reality.

Sources close to Atlético de Madrid indicate that the deal could be closed for a payment close to €90 million (about $97.2 million) fixed, plus a package of variables that would raise the total cost. Regarding what the Argentine expects to earn, the amount exceeds €10 million (about $10.8 million) net per year, a major challenge for the blaugrana treasury.