Barcelona have taken a significant step in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, with sporting director Deco travelling to Madrid on Tuesday to help advance negotiations for the Argentina international.
The 26-year-old is Barcelona’s leading target as they look to strengthen their attack this summer, and the Catalan club have already begun making serious efforts to secure his signature.
Deco made the trip alongside his assistant, Joao Amaral, according to Mundo Deportivo. Their objective is to make progress on a potential deal for Alvarez, whose future has become a major focus of Barcelona’s transfer planning.
The Spanish club believe Alvarez’s desire to leave Atletico Madrid and move to Barcelona could help make an agreement possible. However, Atletico remain firmly opposed to allowing the forward to join Barcelona and have so far maintained their stance against a transfer.
A meeting involving Deco, Joao Amaral and Alvarez’s representative, Fernando Hidalgo, is expected to take place in the coming hours. The discussions are intended to explore the situation surrounding the striker and assess whether there is a path towards an agreement between the two clubs.
Barcelona regard Alvarez as the player they want to lead their efforts to improve their attacking options. The club also recognise that the player’s own preference could become an important factor in negotiations, particularly if he makes another public or private indication that he wants to leave Atletico.
Alvarez remains under contract with Atletico Madrid until 2030. That long-term agreement strengthens Atletico’s position and explains their refusal to countenance a straightforward move to one of their direct domestic rivals.
Barcelona are nevertheless hoping the forward will provide a further signal of his intention to depart. Such a move could increase pressure on Atletico and give the club’s representatives greater scope to negotiate over a transfer.
Tuesday’s visit by Deco and Joao Amaral represents the latest development in Barcelona’s attempt to break through Atletico’s resistance. The Catalan club now face the challenge of convincing Atletico to reconsider their position while relying on Alvarez’s wish to join them to help drive the talks forward.
For now, Atletico’s opposition remains the main obstacle. But with Barcelona’s sporting director in Madrid and discussions with Hidalgo due shortly, the pursuit of Alvarez has entered a more active phase.
