Julián Álvarez transfer latest: Barcelona preparing improved bid after Atlético Madrid rejects first offer

Barcelona is still targeting Julián Álvarez as its top striker signing following Robert Lewandowski’s departure, but landing the Argentina international will require a significantly bigger offer.

Club officials remain optimistic that a deal with Atlético Madrid can still be reached. Behind the scenes, however, there is growing recognition that Barcelona will have to improve on the proposal it previously submitted for the 2022 World Cup winner.

Laporta signals Barcelona’s next move

When Barcelona president Joan Laporta arrived in Dallas on Monday for Spain’s World Cup semifinal against France, he insisted the club would not enter an unlimited bidding war.

“Our offer is a very significant one, but it won’t be unlimited,” Laporta said. “The last time I spoke with Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, I made our position very clear. There was initially some confusion about the offer we made. I cleared that up, and we haven’t made any further progress since then.”

Despite those public comments, sources inside the club indicate Barcelona is preparing a new bid worth more money.

That proposal is expected to arrive within days, likely after the World Cup concludes.

While the opening offer has not been officially confirmed, reports indicate it fell short of €100 million, roughly $114 million, for a player whose release clause stands at €500 million, or about $570 million.

For comparison, Real Madrid previously made a public offer worth €150 million, approximately $170 million, which Atlético rejected without entering negotiations.

Julián Álvarez’s transfer request changed everything

Barcelona’s initial approach even prompted Atlético Madrid to poke fun at its rival on social media.

That changed after Álvarez publicly admitted during the World Cup that he wanted “a transfer because it’s the best thing for everyone” and that he hoped to “fulfill a dream.”

Those comments dramatically altered the negotiating landscape.

Barcelona now believes it has a better chance of completing the deal, but it also understands Atlético is likely to demand a substantially higher fee before seriously considering negotiations.

Barcelona wants a quick resolution

Sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick have no interest in allowing the transfer saga to drag on until the final days of the transfer window.

Flick has already experienced two consecutive summers in which uncertainty over registrations and late roster changes disrupted preseason planning. Barcelona wants clarity much earlier this time.

Laporta reinforced that stance upon arriving in the United States.

“We’re obviously not going to dance to anyone else’s tune,” he said. “We’ll set the pace ourselves. This offer won’t remain on the table indefinitely, and at the appropriate time we’ll announce how long it will stay valid. We made this offer because both the coach and the sporting department want this player.”

Barcelona’s internal deadline remains the end of July or the beginning of August.

If Atlético Madrid still refuses to negotiate by then, the club is expected to move on and pursue alternative targets.

Before that happens, however, Barcelona’s priority is clear. It must submit an improved offer in the hope of finally persuading Atlético Madrid to sit down at the negotiating table.

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