Barcelona’s attempt to sign Julián Álvarez has entered a more complicated phase, despite the Argentine striker’s anger at Atlético Madrid officials and his threat to escalate matters in order to leave. Meanwhile, the Catalan club has begun to believe it will be difficult to complete the deal and is preparing Lautaro Martínez as a backup plan.
According to Spanish reports, Álvarez was expecting to hold a decisive meeting with Diego Simeone and CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín upon his return to Madrid. However, the meeting did not take place, which increased his frustration and his feeling that Atlético is avoiding discussing his future.
Although Barcelona still considers “The Spider” their primary target to reinforce the striker position, Atlético’s insistence on keeping him and their absolute lack of intention to negotiate with Barça have prompted the Catalan sports management to start moving more seriously toward alternatives.
Reasons for Julián Álvarez’s Anger at Simeone and Atlético
Álvarez returned to Atlético’s training expecting the execution of what he believed was a previous promise from the management to listen to offers for his departure. But failing to meet with Simeone or Gil Marín pushed him to send a sharp internal message to the club, stating: “Do not count on me.”
The Argentine forward feels that Atlético’s management closed the door on his transfer without giving him a real chance to explain his position, despite his announcement during the 2026 World Cup that leaving would be the best solution and his desire to fulfill his dream of moving to Barcelona.
Álvarez may resort to further escalation in the coming days if the club’s stance does not change, especially after Simeone’s return to Madrid, amid expectations that he might rebel and refuse to participate in group training.
Atlético Madrid Refuses to Negotiate with Barcelona
Atlético Madrid insists that Álvarez is not for sale, as Simeone confirmed that the club’s decision is clear and that the coaching staff is planning for the new season with the player as a key element.
Álvarez is tied to a contract until the summer of 2030, featuring a €500 million release clause. The club’s CEO stressed that Atlético will not accept selling him for €100, €150, or even €200 million.
Conversely, Barcelona realizes they cannot wait long, especially since signing a new striker is a priority following the departure of Robert Lewandowski. Therefore, the club has set a short, final deadline to see if the player’s pressure will force Atlético to open the door to negotiations.
Lautaro Martínez: Barcelona’s Backup Plan
Barcelona has begun to believe that Álvarez’s desire alone may not be enough to seal the deal, bringing the name of Lautaro Martínez, Inter’s captain, to the forefront of alternative options presented to Hansi Flick and Deco.
Lautaro is highly regarded within Barcelona thanks to his goalscoring ability, movement inside the penalty area, and involvement in build-up play. These characteristics align with Flick’s search for an out-and-out striker who can gel with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Barcelona previously attempted to sign Lautaro a few years ago, but Inter’s financial demands and the Catalan club’s economic crisis halted the operation. Moreover, the current deal will not be easy given the player’s status as captain and one of the Italian team’s most important stars.
However, the interest in Lautaro could turn into an actual move if Barcelona’s deadline expires without Atlético backing down, making the coming days decisive between waiting for one last attempt from Álvarez or officially moving to the backup plan.
