Despite being tracked by Chelsea and Arsenal, World Cup-winning striker Julián Álvarez wants to join FC Barcelona next summer, a report claimed. Atlético Madrid have not written off contract extension possibilities yet and will still try to convince their attacker to stay, the report added.
The 26-year-old Álvarez is contracted to the Madrid club until 2030, but the two-time Copa América winner is rumoured to be leaving for a bigger club in the summer. Chelsea and Arsenal were interested in the former Manchester City striker along with many other European giants, reports had said.
With an entire generation of Argentine talent entering the scene, Alvarez feels he needs a break from Diego Simeone's defensive system to concrete his position as the first choice number nine in the national team setup. Simeone, also an Argentine, hands defensive responsibilities even to his strikers and Alvarez feels he needs another base camp with the FIFA World Cup in the Americas fast approaching.
Julian Alvarez transfer sum
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While Álvarez may wish to become Robert Lewandowski's replacement in the Barca line-up, signing him could be a complicated option for the Catalan club, said Spain's Sport. The portal pointed out that the defending La Liga champions' coffers are not full and, obviously, Atleti is going to ask a fortune for the striker. The club had already rejected a €120 million offer from Arsenal during the last Club World Cup, Sport claimed.
Álvarez has always loved Barcelona and, if he were to leave, he would prefer the Catalan side, Hugo Rafael Varas—Álvarez's first coach—had said in 2025. Chelsea are looking to move on from Ian Maatsen (assumed context for "Dalep"), while Arsenal will be hell-bent on ensuring Viktor Gyökeres's mediocrity will not affect their campaign going forward. Manchester United were also said to be in the mix earlier but seem not to have followed up.
By breaking an 11-game-long goal drought, Álvarez took his season tally to twelve goals and six assists from 34 games.
