The frustration of Julián Álvarez brings him closer to Barça

Despite the scoreline, Julián Álvarez was the only one who stood out, creating multiple chances and coming close to scoring at least twice. However, his expression at the end of the match said it all: frustration is starting to become evident. Although the player has preferred not to speak openly about his future, his surroundings have already hinted that if the Atlético project does not offer him guarantees to compete for titles, the Argentine will consider leaving. In that scenario, FC Barcelona is keeping a close eye on what may happen.

An ambitious bet that is not working out

Álvarez decided to sign with Atlético de Madrid, seduced by Diego Simeone and the project the club presented to him. The rojiblancos invested nearly 80 million euros to bring him from Manchester City, where he was not a guaranteed starter. His arrival was a significant step in his career and the fulfillment of his desire to play in La Liga. Additionally, he was promised a team capable of fighting for all titles. During the summer, the management made an investment of over 175 million euros in signings, but the results have not lived up to expectations. Simeone has struggled to integrate new signings like Baena, and Julián Álvarez lacks an offensive partner to complement him. In La Liga, Atlético is far from Barça and Madrid, and in Europe, they already suffered a reality check against Arsenal, despite the outstanding performance of the Argentine, who was even praised by the London players at the end of the match, a gesture that many interpret as a nod towards the future.

A player at his limit

During the match, Julián Álvarez´s frustration was evident. After Arsenal´s third and fourth goals, his body language said it all. Simeone chose to keep him on the field, being the only one creating danger, but he ended up exhausted and downcast. His image leaving the pitch accurately reflected his mood. This is not the first time he has shown his displeasure: he did so in the league match against Mallorca when he was substituted and openly complained that the coach “always took him off.”

The future of Julián: between gratitude and ambition

Both the player and his surroundings do not plan to make immediate decisions. His commitment to Atlético remains, at least until 2026, and they appreciate the trust that the club has placed in him. However, they acknowledge that if the project does not progress, it will be time to seek new horizons. From the Madrid club, the stance is clear: they do not want to sell him and are willing to offer him a renewal with a salary increase. The release clause, set at 500 million euros, makes a departure almost impossible, although if the player expresses his desire to leave, the scenario could change. In the offices, there is already speculation that Atlético could accept an offer close to 200 million euros, a figure that only teams like PSG could afford. However, this does not seem to be a realistic valuation, and it would all depend on the pressure the player exerts. In the case of Barça, their interest is firm, but the signing would only be viable if two conditions are met: a reduction in price —currently Transfermarkt values the player at around 100 million euros— and the possibility of including players in the operation.

A fluid relationship between Atlético and Barça

Both clubs maintain good institutional relations and have closed deals of all kinds in recent years. The most recent example was Clément Lenglet, who received a letter of freedom from Barça to sign with Atlético. Additionally, the rojiblanco club has shown interest in several Barça players in recent seasons. Therefore, a hypothetical arrival of Julián Álvarez at FC Barcelona is not far-fetched, as long as the necessary factors are met. The first of these, his desire to leave Atlético, seems to be increasing as the season progresses and frustrations accumulate.