25 May 2026 12:33 BST |
4 min read
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has told the Wanda Metropolitano side that he wants to leave in the summer amid interest from Barcelona, Arsenal and PSG.
Alvarez, 26, has a release clause worth €500 million at Atleti, who are expected to demand a transfer fee of around €150m to allow one of the European heavyweights to sign the World Cup winner.
He has already made his desire to leave Madrid clear to the club’s leaders, according to El Chiringuito, which claims that he has given his priority to Barcelona.
Julian Alvarez wants Barcelona
“Julian has said that he wants to leave Atletico, and he knows where he wants to play – it’s at FC Barcelona. It’s true that PSG has contacted his agent, but Julian wants to wait for Barca,” pundit Jose Alvarez said.
“Barcelona have to go back to the 1:1 ratio. This will be in place from July, when a more direct negotiation will begin.
“Atletico will not refuse to negotiate, and they will sit at the table because Alvarez wants to leave.
“Barcelona is his absolute preference, so they will sit seriously to talk.”
Diego Simeone was notably evasive on the future of the forward when speaking following Atletico Madrid’s 5-1 loss against Villarreal on the final day of the La Liga season.
“This isn’t a question for me; it’s a question for Julián. He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do, and I imagine he’s already made his decision.”
Doubts over Barca’s finances remain
Despite the claims, there are still major doubts over whether Barcelona will be able to afford such a blockbuster transfer fee. Alvarez, after all, has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) in excess of €110m.
Certainly, there is a perception among the hierarchy of European football that the deal will be impossible.
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness was asked about rumours linking Harry Kane with a move to Barca in a deal that would echo Lewandowski’s switch four years ago.
Asked by Das Erste if Kane will remain at Bayern, he said: “Yes – and Barcelona have no money anyway.”
Even if Atleti do not get the €150m that the capital side reportedly want for the forward, they face shelling out €100m+ for the fourth time in their history. Each of the three previous deals at this price point – Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann – have been notoriously bad for Barcelona, so Alvarez would represent a sizeable risk at that fee.
Both Arsenal and PSG can yet afford to outspend Barcelona, and the Champions League finalists are both in a position to take a greater risk on the player.
Nevertheless, if Barcelona were to land Alvarez, it would represent a huge statement of intent and a clear message that they are finally back on a healthier financial footing.
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