Barcelona ends pursuit of Julián Álvarez, will rely on current squad

Barcelona has largely closed the file on signing Argentine striker Julián Álvarez, after Atlético Madrid remained firm in its refusal to sell the player to the Catalan club. This has prompted Barcelona’s management to seek solutions within its current squad rather than pursuing a new signing before the transfer window closes.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Barcelona’s management has accepted the difficulty of signing Álvarez, especially as Atlético Madrid declined to enter negotiations, despite the player’s stated desire to leave and join Barcelona. In contrast, the Madrid club showed willingness to discuss Álvarez’s departure to Arsenal, but does not want to strengthen a direct rival in La Liga.

As a result, sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick have decided not to sign a new striker unless an exceptional opportunity arises in the final days of the transfer window. The management believes that the limited time makes it difficult to find a top-class striker, especially since the selling club would also need to secure a replacement.

Flick places trust in young and attacking alternatives

One of the main reasons for Barcelona’s decision is coach Hansi Flick’s confidence in what he has seen during pre-season and the start of the campaign. The German coach has several options in attack, allowing him to compensate for the absence of a traditional striker when needed.

Raphinha has shown a strong ability to make a difference, while both Gordon and Adeyemi can play as center-forwards, even though their primary positions are on the wings. Dani Olmo is also capable of filling this role if required.

Young players are not overlooked by Flick, as Hamza Abdelkarim emerged as one of the top scorers during pre-season, alongside Bissio. As a result, Barcelona has chosen to rely on its current squad, with the option to revisit the transfer market in January if the start of the season reveals a need for an additional striker.