Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club remains determined to sign Julian Alvarez, revealing that the Catalan giants were encouraged to continue their pursuit after receiving information that Atletico Madrid could be negotiating the striker’s sale with other clubs.
Laporta adopted a diplomatic tone when discussing Atletico but made it clear that Barcelona’s offer remained on the table if the Spanish club decided to sell the Argentina international before the end of the summer transfer window.
“We are very interested in the player; we would like our offer to be accepted,” Laporta said. “And we do this with the utmost respect for Atletico Madrid and want them to know that, if they are willing to sell during this summer transfer window, we would be ready to buy the player in accordance with the offer we have already made.”
Barcelona’s interest in Alvarez had already been well established, with head coach Hansi Flick reportedly viewing the forward as a major addition to his attacking options.
Laporta explained that Barcelona had made what the club considered a significant proposal to Atletico and personally contacted Miguel Angel Gil Marin to underline their intentions.
“At the time, Barca made an offer to Atletico Madrid for Julian, an offer we consider very significant, especially since our coach is genuinely interested in the player,” Laporta explained.
He said he subsequently spoke directly with Gil Marin, who initially indicated that Atletico had no intention of selling Alvarez because the club had no alternative for the player.
Laporta responded by leaving the door open for negotiations should Atletico’s position change during the transfer window.
“I confirmed this offer by phone in a personal call to Miguel Angel Gil to make it clear that we want the player. He told me they are not selling because they have no alternative, and I said to him: ‘When you have an alternative, if it is still within this summer window, we are here so that, if you then want to sell, we are ready to acquire the player’s services,’” he said.
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Barcelona remain alert to Atletico talks
The situation changed from Barcelona’s perspective after the club received information suggesting that Atletico were speaking to other teams about Alvarez.
Laporta said he subsequently discussed the situation with sporting director Deco and instructed him to put the transfer on standby because Atletico had appeared unwilling to sell.
However, Barcelona continued to receive reports that the Madrid club was exploring possible deals.
“What happened? We received information that Atletico Madrid is in negotiations with other clubs or talking to other clubs to explore the possibility of selling Julian,” Laporta said.
That information encouraged Barcelona to maintain their proposal rather than withdraw from the race.
The president explained that the club had also used intermediaries with established relationships at Atletico to establish whether the Spanish club had changed its position.
“This puts us in a position where we are maintaining our offer and would like them to sell to us, not to another club,” Laporta said.
“That’s why we made some moves through people we trust who also have relationships with Atletico Madrid’s directors. And well, they confirmed to us that they were not selling, but we kept receiving information that there were ongoing talks.”
Barcelona therefore remain hopeful that Atletico could eventually soften their stance, particularly if Alvarez continues to push for a move.
Alvarez future remains uncertain
The Argentine forward’s situation has added another layer to the negotiations, with Alvarez previously expressing his desire to leave Atletico in order to fulfil what he described as a dream.
Atletico, however, have remained firm on the importance of keeping their star forward as they attempt to compete with Europe’s leading clubs.
Diego Simeone, Miguel Angel Gil Marin and Enrique Cerezo have all resisted suggestions that Alvarez should be allowed to leave, making any potential agreement with Barcelona difficult.
Barcelona’s reported proposal was around €100 million, although that figure fell significantly short of the €150 million offer Real Madrid had reportedly made publicly.
That difference could prove decisive if Atletico ultimately decide to consider Alvarez’s departure, particularly with interest from multiple clubs potentially giving them greater leverage in negotiations.
Despite the obstacles, Laporta insisted that Barcelona had handled the situation respectfully and wanted to reach an agreement directly with Atletico rather than force a confrontation.
“We would like to reach an understanding with Atletico Madrid,” he said. “We are maintaining our offer to Atletico Madrid.”
Laporta also reiterated that Barcelona believed Alvarez wanted to move to Camp Nou, strengthening the club’s confidence that a deal could still be possible.
“I hope there can be an understanding between the two clubs, among all of us, so that, if they sell the player, it is Barca who can acquire the services of Julian Alvarez,” he added.
For now, Barcelona’s offer remains active while Atletico continue to resist selling one of their most important players. The next stage of the transfer saga will depend on whether Atletico eventually decide to negotiate, while Barcelona will have to remain ready to act if the Madrid club opens the door to Alvarez’s departure.