It’s now or never for Barcelona as they make yet another attempt to sign their top summer transfer target, Julian Alvarez.
Atletico Madrid have maintained a firm stance throughout the majority of the summer, insisting that the Argentine striker is not for sale. However, with Deco and Joao Amaral flying to Madrid to negotiate with Alvarez’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, it could prove to be a crucial step in the bid to bring their dream signing to the Camp Nou.
The question now is not whether they can afford to bring him to the Camp Nou, with expectations that Atletico will demand a tremendously high transfer fee. Now, it’s whether Barca can convince Atletico to give in, but Julian Alvarez may need to play a part in pushing for the move. FC Barcelona have been active on the market so far, with the signings of Anthony Gordon (€80M) and Karim Adeyemi (€25M) already confirmed.
With Atletico hesitant to sell Julian Alvarez to a direct rival, this could make this move more improbable than it was first anticipated to be. Another figure who could play a key role in facilitating this signing is none other than long-term head coach Diego Simeone. With Simeone believed to only want players who are 100% on board with the team’s plan and with the enormous respect he has commanded with the Atletico hierarchy over the years, he could sway Atletico to give in to Barcelona’s request.
In terms of what Alvarez would bring to the team, his pressing and build-up play would be some of the main attributes that elevate Barcelona’s attack to possibly one of the best, if not the best, in the whole of Europe. Not to mention his ability to strike the ball from distance and provide a little creativity when struggling against low-block defenses makes him all the more valuable to Barcelona. After failing to reach the UEFA Champions League in the last two seasons, Barca will hope this move could be the one to push them over the edge.
