The summer transfer circus involving Julian Alvarez has reached its critical point. According to Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona have now come to peace with the reality that Atletico Madrid is entirely closed for negotiations on selling their top frontman.
With the July deadline looming and bearing down upon the 100 million Euro price-tag deadline, the Catalan giants have decided if Alvarez isn’t signing, no other striker will be.
Sticking to their guns: No movement from Atleti
Barca have been engaged in a stand-off for months with their rivals as Alvarez has himself expressed his desire to leave during the World Cup to "fulfill his dream". However, Atletico are refusing to budge, despite the staggering offer from FC Barcelona.
Barcelona board and Joan Laporta are ready to accept this harsh reality and they are now stating that they refuse to raise their 100 million Euro offer. The decision has now completely been passed to Alvarez. The balls are in the court now as the transfer saga will rely on the 26-year-old’s desire to force a move.
Why the decision makes so much sense
This season would have surely seen Barca get caught panic buying a center-forward. But having landed new signings in Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, the landscape of Hansi Flick’s attack has completely been overhauled with immense pace, depth, and threat on the flanks.
As a result, Barca have had their minds made up since acquiring those new talents that there are in no need to acquire other number nines. The club's upper echelons have already concluded that the market for elite strikers will offer absolutely nothing reasonable.
Flexibility: A Plan B already in motion
Should the Alvarez operation come to a premature end, Flick does not look like he will be concerned as Barcelona are expected to rely solely on versatility within the existing squad to fill the central No. 9 position. Hansi Flick is 100 percent confident the following forwards can thrive in that role:
- Ferran Torres: Just few weeks ago, he won the World Cup final with a crucial winner that propelled his lagacy as a player. He is very capable of playing the central striker. There are rumours of him being available on the market and PSG being a strong contender, but nothing is finalised now.
- Dani Olmo: La Masia graduate has proven time and time again his ability to play in the center of the park in a way where the playmaker will frequently be dropping deep in between the lines. This then allows Barca’s wingers and forward to exploit the open space in behind defenses.
- Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon: Both these new signings can directly drive towards goal with the sheer power and intensity that makes them capable of functioning as strikers.
The clock is ticking on Alvarez’s time in a Los Rojiblancos jersey. Barcelona either awaits him to create a pathway for his own escape, or they begin the campaign with the very strong lineup they currently boast at their disposal.
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