Julian Alvarez’s representatives are expected to travel to Barcelona this week to agree a strategy with the Catalan club aimed at reviving the stalled possibility of the Atletico Madrid striker moving to Camp Nou.
Barcelona remain keen to complete a deal for the 26-year-old Argentina international, despite Atletico Madrid taking a firm position and closing the door on negotiations.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Alvarez has been Barcelona’s main transfer target for several months. The club view him not only as a potential addition to their attack but also as their most important strategic signing.
However, any progress has been blocked by Atletico Madrid’s refusal to discuss the player’s departure. The Madrid club’s stance has left the proposed transfer at a standstill, with no negotiations currently taking place.
Alvarez’s representatives are now planning a visit to the Catalan capital in the coming days. Their intention is to work with Barcelona on a joint approach and establish how the deal could be moved forward despite Atletico Madrid’s position.
The information available indicates that the first step will be to agree a strategy designed to create movement in the transfer process. The visit by the player’s agents is therefore expected to focus on finding a way to reopen the issue with Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona also want Alvarez to go further in making his position public. During the World Cup, he called on his club to allow him to leave so he could fulfil his dream, and Barcelona now hope he will adopt a stronger and clearer stance.
The Catalan club would like Alvarez to state explicitly that his preference is to play for Barcelona. If he does so, Barcelona are prepared to increase their offer from the €100m proposal already submitted to €115m.
That would represent a significant effort from Barcelona to secure the forward, but the club still face the obstacle of Atletico Madrid’s unwillingness to negotiate. The proposed increase is dependent on Alvarez openly expressing his desire to join Barcelona.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed the club’s transfer work on Monday at the end of the team’s training camp in England. He said he was aligned with the work being carried out by sporting director Deco and acknowledged that Barcelona know they must do something to strengthen their attack.
Flick’s comments underline the club’s intention to improve its forward line, while the planned arrival of Alvarez’s agents offers a fresh attempt to coordinate the next stage of the pursuit. Barcelona’s strategy will now depend partly on whether the Argentina international is willing to make his wish to join the club more clearly known.
For the moment, Atletico Madrid’s position remains unchanged and the transfer has not advanced. The meeting between Alvarez’s representatives and Barcelona is intended to determine whether a new approach can break the deadlock.
