Barcelona manager Hansi Flick suggested on Wednesday that the club could finish the summer transfer window without adding a new striker if their ongoing efforts to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid prove unsuccessful. While the Spanish champions remain interested in the 26-year-old 2022 World Cup winner, Atletico has consistently resisted selling the forward, who was absent from training on Wednesday due to illness.
Reports in the Spanish media indicate that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is firm in his stance of “Alvarez or nobody.” Addressing the situation, Flick emphasized the need to balance immediate needs with the club’s long-term future. “I don’t want to speak about Julian. I only want to speak about the situation of the club. We made some really good, good transfers now in this market,” the German coach stated. He added that while a coach naturally desires the best possible squad, he maintains total confidence in the quality of the players currently at his disposal.
The pursuit has been ongoing since July, when Laporta confirmed that Barcelona had submitted a bid for the forward. Despite Atletico’s insistence that the player is not for sale, the offer remains on the table. Laporta reiterated on Wednesday that the club remains hopeful for a deal, noting that Alvarez appeared to be the target of jeers from Atletico fans during their 2-2 La Liga draw against Villarreal on Sunday.
“It seems that the player wants to come to Barca, and therefore we continue to hold on to our hope, our intention—always with the utmost respect for Atletico Madrid—of being able to sign the player,” Laporta said in a video released by the club. The president further noted that Barcelona has received information suggesting Atletico has engaged in discussions with other clubs regarding a potential sale. Consequently, Laporta is eager to ensure that if the striker departs the Spanish capital, his destination is Camp Nou.
While Arsenal has been linked to the forward in recent days and Real Madrid reportedly made an initial, albeit non-serious, bid earlier this summer, Barcelona remains committed to its strategy. “We would like to reach an understanding with Atletico Madrid—we maintain our proposal, our offer to Atletico Madrid,” Laporta concluded. The report also notes that “Our goal is clear, but in the end also the club has to think about the future.
