Julián Álvarez has already communicated internally to Atlético de Madrid his desire for a change of scenery. The Argentine striker made it clear, privately, that he would like to move to another club, with Barcelona as his main destination.
Journalist Matteo Moretto revealed the behind-the-scenes of the situation this Wednesday, during his appearance on the program La Pizarra, on Rádio MARCA. According to him, the 26-year-old player has been talking to the Spanish club’s management about his intentions and does not welcome a long-term stay at Metropolitano.
Atlético de Madrid maintains a firm stance of not facilitating any exit. The club has recently rejected a proposal of 150 million euros from Real Madrid and does not intend to negotiate the Argentine for values below 120 to 125 million, according to Moretto’s own estimate. Álvarez’s contract runs until June 2030 and has a release clause of 500 million euros.
Despite the resistance, Barcelona continues to work behind the scenes. The Catalan club has already started contacts and is preparing a formal offer, seeing the Argentine as a strong addition to the attack, especially with Robert Lewandowski’s future open.
Álvarez arrived at Atlético from Manchester City in 2023 and quickly established himself as an important player. Last season, the center forward contributed around 20 goals in all competitions, helping Diego Simeone’s team in LaLiga and European competitions. However, speculation about tactical disagreements and the desire for a more offensive project gained momentum.
Diego Simeone, when asked about the striker’s future after the last round of LaLiga, left the decision in the hands of the player himself. “It’s not a question for me, it’s for Julián. He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do,” said the coach.
The scenario opens up a busy transfer market for the Argentine, who has already accumulated important titles in his career, including the 2022 World Cup with the Argentine national team. Any negotiations are expected to drag on over the next few weeks, with Atlético prioritizing retention or a high-value sale.