Barcelona remains determined to sign Argentine forward Julián Álvarez, who, according to reports, prefers the Catalan club over Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Álvarez sees Barcelona as the ideal environment to rediscover his best football, valuing the system and high-quality teammates that better fit his playing style.
The striker has had a challenging 2025/26 season with Atlético Madrid, finishing fourth in La Liga, 25 points behind Barcelona, and has yet to win any trophies with the club. He has grown frustrated with Atlético's tactical approach, often having to chase possession and creating chances more on his own, whereas Barcelona's possession-based style offers him more freedom in the attacking third.
Another major factor is Barcelona's squad quality, which allows him to play alongside creative midfielders like Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López, and Dani Olmo, as well as forwards Raphinha and the emerging star Lamine Yamal. Álvarez believes that partnering with Yamal would elevate both his and the team’s attacking threat.
However, negotiations remain complicated because Atlético resists selling a key player to one of their main domestic rivals. No breakthrough is expected before the end of the World Cup.
Barcelona continues monitoring the situation, but there is no confirmation yet of an imminent transfer for Álvarez.
