Barcelona continues to show interest in signing forward Julian Alvarez, but Atlético Madrid is determined to make a deal difficult for the Catalan club. Spanish media report that Atlético has made it clear they will not do business with Barcelona, placing the club at a disadvantage against other contenders such as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, who have also shown strong interest in the Argentine striker.
Arsenal appears particularly keen on Alvarez, viewing him as an upgrade over their current striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Premier League champions maintain good relationships with Atlético, partly due to their sporting director Andrea Berta’s ties to Atlético's sports department. Recent talks between the clubs concerning the 26-year-old striker have been confirmed.
Atlético aims to keep Alvarez, but if a sale is inevitable, Arsenal is their preferred destination. However, a significant valuation gap between the clubs gives Barcelona some breathing room.
Meanwhile, Barcelona's sporting director Deco has already started exploring alternative options, with one described as "exciting." This strategy allows Barcelona to remain relaxed if they fail to secure an agreement for Alvarez while still preparing to find a suitable replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
