News Focus
- Atletico Madrid want €150m for Julian Alvarez
- Barcelona’s maximum budget for a striker is €100m
- The Argentine forward has turned down a new contract at the Metropolitano
- Club officials are split on whether to sell the 26-year-old
- Barcelona hope to benefit from La Liga’s 1:1 spending rule
Barcelona have received fresh encouragement in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez. However, Atletico Madrid have set a massive asking price that could block the move.
The Argentine forward has rejected a contract extension from the Madrid side. This suggests he is ready to leave the Metropolitano during the summer transfer window.
Sources close to the club indicate that Atleti might consider selling the striker. Alvarez found the net 20 times in 49 matches across all competitions last season. Yet, any transfer must meet their strict financial demands.
Spanish newspaper Marca reports that the World Cup winner wishes to join a club with bigger ambitions. Atletico will only approve the transfer if they receive offers around €150 million.
This figure would smash Barcelona’s transfer record. Their current highest fee remains the amount they paid for Ousmane Dembele in 2017.
The situation has divided opinion among Atletico’s board members. Some believe selling Alvarez would generate funds to strengthen multiple positions in the squad. Others insist the club must keep their star player despite outside interest.
Barcelona expect to return to La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule soon. This change would give them greater freedom in the market. Despite this, the Catalan club will not exceed €100m for a new centre-forward. This gap in valuation makes a deal difficult unless Atletico lower their demands.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the two clubs can find common ground. For now, the transfer remains uncertain.