Robert Lewandowski continues to be a key figure in FC Barcelona's offensive scheme, but the club is already starting to look beyond. With a contract until 2026, the Polish forward is entering the final stretch of his career, and his performance has started to show very evident signs of wear. Although he remains competitive and useful for the club, Barça understands that it can't depend on him forever.
In that sense, the sporting management is already working with a clear idea: finding a successor who can take over without creating a void in the forward line. The goal is to keep the team's competitiveness without waiting for Lewandowski's departure to become an urgency. That's why eyes are already on the transfer market for the near future.
The chosen one for Barça
According to the latest information circulating in the club's offices, the name at the top of the wish list is Julián Álvarez. The current forward of Atlético de Madrid is Joan Laporta's big bet for the summer of 2026, a date that coincides with the next presidential elections. His signing, besides covering a sporting need, would also be a strategic move with high media impact for Laporta to strengthen his candidacy.
The Argentine striker possesses all the attributes that Barça seeks: youth, experience at the elite level, a winning mentality, and a playing style that fits perfectly. Julián Álvarez is a complete forward, capable of adapting to different offensive contexts and contributing both in pressing and finishing. This is why Hansi Flick also insists on his signing, and Lewandowski sees him as his ideal successor for a team like Barça.
A calculated operation
Julián's signing, evidently, will not be easy. He has an active contract with Atlético and a high clause, but FC Barcelona believes there is room to work. Laporta trusts he can seduce the player with an ambitious project and use different formulas to make his arrival viable, without compromising the Catalan club's economy.
On the other hand, there are signs from the player's environment that fuel optimism. Although he is committed to Atlético, Julián has not hidden his admiration for the style that FC Barcelona keeps. If the Madrid club fails to compete at the highest level, a departure in 2026 would not be an outlandish idea.