Julián Álvarez, the forward preferred by Laporta

The Argentine, current player of Atlético de Madrid, shone in the derby against Real Madrid and once again awakened the admiration of the Barça fans. Among the most attentive was Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, who has a soft spot for the striker since his time at Manchester City. In fact, in the summer of 2024, it was already reported in “La Posesión” about the culé interest in acquiring his services. Finally, in that summer market, Álvarez ended up at Atlético, while Barça maintained full confidence in Robert Lewandowski and could not afford the high transfer cost. Now, the scenario has changed: the Pole´s contract ends at the end of the current season, and the board is clear that they will need to execute a major operation to continue competing with the European elite. In this context, Álvarez has become the number one target for next summer, as revealed this Monday in “La Posesión”.

Salary space and player desire

Signing Julián would pose a significant economic difficulty, although Barça is confident in several advantages in their favor. The main one is the release of salary mass with Lewandowski´s departure, who earns 26 million gross annually. His contract included a salary progression in the first three seasons, although this last one has seen a reduction. Additionally, there is a pending amortization of 12.5 million, which would also be released. In total, the azulgrana club would have 38.5 million in margin to register under the 1:1 rule. Another key point is the personal affinity of Julián with Barça. His childhood idol was Leo Messi, his current teammate in the Argentine national team. This was confirmed by his representative, Fernando Hidalgo, in the podcast “Solo para culers,” aired on June 5: “Since I was little, I followed Leo´s career, and it´s hard to find an Argentine who doesn´t have sympathy for Barça, especially seeing how the team played this season.” The player´s own environment does not rule out a change in 2026 either. Hidalgo stated: “His day-to-day is at Atlético, but we will see how the negotiation develops. Football changes quickly. It will be a matter between the three parties: player, Atlético, and Barça.”

A locked contract and a very high clause

The main obstacle is Julián Álvarez´s contract, which extends until 2030, with a release clause of 500 million euros. Atlético is not facing financial urgencies and has invested heavily in its project, so it does not intend to let its star leave for less than 200 million. At Barça, they are aware that Julián is not a problematic player who forces his exit, nor is he a profile that confronts his club or Simeone. Although Enrique Cerezo often states that footballers play where they want, in practice, the situation always depends on the economic conditions.

The alternative plan: Erling Haaland

Although Laporta is clear that Julián is the desired forward, the option of Erling Haaland is also being explored. The electoral year forces the azulgrana president to seek a media signing that excites the members. Laporta´s personal relationship with Rafaela Pimienta, the representative of the Norwegian, may facilitate an approach. Additionally, the player´s environment views positively the idea of moving his name, especially after a season in which Haaland has been overshadowed by emerging figures like Lamine Yamal, Mbappé, or even Dembélé.