Barcelona abandon pursuit of Julián Álvarez after three months
In a quiet office at the Portugal Football Summit in Lisbon, Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, announced that the Catalan giants have ended their three‑month attempt to sign Argentine striker Julián Álvarez. The decision follows Atlético de Madrid’s refusal to release the forward, who had expressed a desire to leave during the World Cup.
Negotiations collapse
According to AFP, Barcelona had been the most persistent suitor, reportedly offering up to 120 million euros for Álvarez. Despite the hefty bid, Atlético de Madrid closed the door, leaving the Blaugrana with no path to the player.
Deco told reporters at the summit that “Julián is past, we have to look forward.” He added that the club is “happy with the rest of the squad” and wishes the Argentine “well at his club.” The quote was delivered in Spanish and later circulated by Google’s news feed.
The Argentine’s discontent was first noted in a match against Villarreal, where he appeared “in lament” for Atlético de Madrid, as described by the outlet Futbol. That performance sparked interest from several clubs, including both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Deco urges Barcelona to move on from Julián Alvarez saga
Barcelona look elsewhere
With the Álvarez deal off the table, Barcelona turned its attention to other options. Deco confirmed that the club secured Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus after the Álvarez pursuit proved impossible. He explained that Jesus “was not in the plans because we did not know his situation,” but the club acted quickly once the Argentine target vanished.
Despite losing the chance to sign Álvarez, as well as the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferrán Torres, Barcelona’s attack remains potent. Players such as Raphina, Lamine Yamal and Karim Adeyemi have combined for 37 goals in just eight matches.
The club’s next move will involve scouting for a new centre‑forward, but Deco stressed that the focus is now on “many deals and many signings that we usually do not miss.”