Barcelona face increasing competition in their pursuit of one of Europe’s most coveted forwards.
According to a recent report from ESPN, relayed by SPORT, Arsenal are preparing to Blaugrana Signed Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.
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Barcelona’s interest in Alvarez is well known. Within the club, the Argentine is seen as the ideal long-term successor to Lewandowski, whose role as the main reference in attack will inevitably need to be replaced.
Alvarez’s versatility, work rate and goal-scoring ability make him a good fit for Barcelona’s sporting needs and stylistic profile.
Arsenal enters the pitch
However, Barcelona We are fully aware that signing him will be extremely difficult.
This is because his market value is estimated to be around €100 million, and the situation is further complicated by the knowledge that there are several deep-pocketed clubs willing to go to great lengths to secure his services.
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This reality puts Barcelona at a disadvantage, at least in the short term.
As a result, Arsenal are now one of the strongest challengers. The Premier League side are considering a major summer investment and view Alvarez as a player who can improve their attacking options.
Arsenal have joined the race to sign Julian Alvarez. (Photo by Dennis Doyle/Getty Images)
Their confidence is closely linked to the presence of Andrea Berta, who joins Arsenal after 12 years at Atletico Madrid.
Berta’s in-depth knowledge of Spanish clubs provides Arsenal with a strategic advantage. It is said that he was directly involved in negotiations for Alvarez’s transfer from Manchester City in 2024.
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Additionally, he maintains a close working relationship with player agent Fernando Hidalgo and his team.
Not an easy operation
Alvarez’s long-term contract with Atletico Madrid runs until 2030, and his release clause is as high as 500 million euros.
While no club is expected to activate the clause, Atletico would only consider opening negotiations for an amount close to €100 million, an amount that would allow them to recoup their original investment.
From Barcelona’s perspective, patience is key. The club plans to wait until they return to 1:1 financial rules, which is expected to happen in the summer.
Once that is achieved, Barcelona intend to make a big push for a new centre-forward and Alvarez is high on their shortlist.
