Partner demands £128 million, Barca’s dream of a World Cup champion shattered

Barcelona is eager to sign Julian Alvarez to strengthen their attack, but the price tag exceeding £128 million set by Atletico Madrid has made the Catalan club hesitate.

Barcelona harbors ambitions to acquire Julian Alvarez to boost their offensive power, yet the deal is nearly at a dead end due to Atletico Madrid’s steep valuation of the Argentine star.

Last season, despite Atletico Madrid failing to win any trophies, Julian Alvarez stood out as a rare bright spot. The 25-year-old striker delivered an explosive performance with 29 goals and 8 assists, becoming the second most effective scorer in La Liga after Erling Haaland. In the 2025-2026 season, Alvarez has continued his impressive form with 7 goals and 3 assists in just 12 matches, solidifying his position as an indispensable key player in coach Diego Simeone’s squad.

With a consistent scoring record and versatile playing style, Alvarez is seen as the perfect fit for Barca’s revival plans. However, financial constraints remain a major obstacle.

According to Sport, the Catalan club currently carries a transfer debt of £136 million and is unlikely to meet Atletico’s asking price of £128.4 million. This figure effectively shuts the door on Barca’s hopes, especially as they remain under strict spending limits imposed by La Liga’s financial fair play regulations.

Not only Barca, but PSG also showed interest but withdrew for similar reasons. The French club is under tight financial scrutiny and already has forwards like Ousmane Dembele and Gonçalo Ramos. A deal exceeding £100 million for Alvarez is simply unrealistic.

Given the circumstances, Alvarez is likely to stay at Atletico Madrid at least until the end of this season. Although the player reportedly has some doubts about the club’s direction, he remains a crucial piece in Simeone’s plans. With Barca unable to spend, PSG hesitant, and Premier League giants yet to act, Julian Alvarez is almost certain to continue wearing Atletico’s jersey, carrying the goal-scoring burden and helping “Los Rojiblancos” reclaim their status in Europe.