Weeks go by and there is increasingly more clarity in Barça's offices regarding who will be the center forward for the next season: Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker, about to turn 37 years old, remains an important piece in Hansi Flick's team and is not considering leaving at the end of the season. Although his age is advanced for the pace of elite soccer, his experience, professionalism, and goal-scoring qualities are still highly valued by the coaching staff.
To this, it must be added that the Catalan club is not in a position to make a large investment in a "9" this summer. The main priority is to strengthen other areas such as the wings or the full-backs, where Hansi Flick believes more depth is needed and firmly defends this idea. Therefore, Barça is clear that the arrival of a center forward is postponed, at least, one more year, which gives time to find a stellar replacement.
The Chosen One for the Future
According to the latest information circulating in the culé environment, Barça already has Lewandowski's replacement in sight when his contract ends in 2026: Julián Álvarez. The Argentine forward is highly regarded by the culé board, and Laporta sees him as the ideal player to lead the attack in the coming years. He is young, already has experience in Europe, and fits the style Hansi Flick is looking for in his current scheme.
There is no doubt that Julián Álvarez has performed extraordinarily at Atlético de Madrid, but he hasn't been able to celebrate any titles at this point. As expected, this has caused some frustration in his environment, so his future with the colchonero team is not assured. If Atlético de Madrid has another trophyless season, Julián might consider a change of scenery, and that's where Barça wants to be ready to act.
An Operation Thought Out Calmly
Barça is aware that right now they can't compete financially for Julián, as his price is high and his contract doesn't end very soon. But that's not a problem: the idea is to wait for the right moment. If in 2026 the conditions are right, Barça will try to go for him with everything, taking advantage of the end of the Lewandowski cycle.
That's why they are alert to everything happening with the Argentine: his performance, his contract, and, above all, his mood. If he notices that his project at Atlético is not progressing, he might look favorably on a move to Camp Nou. And Barça hopes to have the scenario ready when that happens.