According to a report by Barca Universal on Friday May 1, 2026, Barcelona’s hopes of signing a new striker could suffer a major setback, as Julian Alvarez now appears increasingly unlikely to leave Atletico Madrid, with the Spanish club moving quickly to secure his long-term future........…
According to Matteo Moretto via MARCA, Atletico .... Madrid are already preparing plans to offer the Argentine forward a new contract once the current season concludes. Such a move would significantly reduce Barcelona’s chances of landing him, effectively closing off a key transfer target.
Barcelona have been closely monitoring Alvarez .... as part of their long-term plan to refresh their attacking options. The club views him as an ideal candidate to eventually lead the line, particularly with growing uncertainty surrounding Robert Lewandowski’s future at the Camp Nou.
Lewandowski is expected to depart amid interest from clubs in Europe and Major League Soccer, prompting Barcelona to identify potential successors. Alvarez has been among their top priorities due to his age, quality, and experience at the highest level.
However, the situation does not currently favour Barcelona. Alvarez is understood to be settled in Madrid, both professionally and personally, and there are no strong indications that he is seeking a transfer away from Atletico at this stage of his career.
Reports suggest his representatives are satisfied with his current role, while Atletico themselves are confident he remains a central part of their long-term sporting project. This stability has encouraged the club to act quickly to extend his contract after the season ends.
Atletico’s intention is to remove any uncertainty surrounding his future and block interest from other European clubs. The club are prepared to reward him with improved terms to ensure he remains a key figure moving forward.
From Barcelona’s perspective, this makes a potential deal extremely difficult. Atletico reportedly value Alvarez at around €100 million, a fee that already poses significant financial challenges for the Catalan club.
Unless Alvarez personally pushes for a move, Barcelona’s chances appear minimal, as there is currently no sign that the striker is considering leaving Atletico despite previous speculation about his long-term future.…READ / MORE…
