Barcelona’s pursuit of Julián Álvarez faces challenges amid focus on Rodri deal

By Rohan Gupta — 7 August 2026 — 3 min read

Barcelona’s Transfer Strategy Shifts

Barcelona’s efforts to secure Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid have encountered significant hurdles, coinciding with accelerated negotiations for Manchester City midfielder Rodri. This shift in focus has led to questions regarding the Catalan club’s financial strategy under Financial Fair Play constraints.

Initially, Álvarez was a top priority for the Spanish champions, intended as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona reportedly made an initial offer of 100 million euros for the Atlético Madrid striker, which was rejected by Atlético, who maintained their intention to keep the player.

Despite efforts by Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, who traveled to Madrid to meet with Álvarez’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, Atlético has shown no flexibility. This has led Barcelona’s management to consider the deal for Álvarez as practically impossible after repeated attempts to alter Atlético’s stance were unsuccessful throughout the summer.

Challenges in Securing Key Targets

The timing of the stalled Álvarez deal aligns with Barcelona’s progress in negotiations for Rodri. The potential acquisition of Rodri alone could reportedly cost the club more than 80 million euros, in addition to a substantial salary. When combined with the reported fee for Álvarez, which was stated to be north of 100 million euros, the total sum appears to exceed Barcelona’s realistic financial calculations for the current summer transfer window.

Deco’s department seems to have prioritized strengthening the midfield with a player of Rodri’s caliber, potentially at the expense of the center-forward position. This decision may also be influenced by the availability of more affordable options in the market for attacking roles.

The pursuit of Álvarez has been described as leaving Barcelona in a difficult negotiating position, especially given the club’s financial situation. Reports indicate that Álvarez may reaffirm his desire to leave, potentially increasing pressure on Atlético Madrid.

Exploring Alternative Attacking Options

With a potential withdrawal from the race for Álvarez, Barcelona has begun to explore other attacking alternatives. Several backup options have reportedly become unavailable; Joao Pedro is close to renewing his contract with Chelsea, Eli Junior Kroupi is expected to be out due to injury for several months, and Fisnik Asllani is reportedly nearing a move to Leipzig.

Among the prominent names still being considered is Serbia’s Dusan Vlahovic, who is a free agent after departing Juventus. He is reportedly awaiting an offer from Barcelona, facing competition from Turkey’s Besiktas. Additionally, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has also been offered to the club.

The question remains whether the focus on Rodri was the primary reason for Barcelona’s apparent shift away from Álvarez, or if Atlético’s firm stance alone led to the deal’s complications. The coming days are expected to provide more clarity on Barcelona’s transfer strategy.

Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, has been advocating for the signing of a center forward, a position that became vacant following Lewandowski’s departure. The club’s target for strengthening the attack has been Álvarez for an extended period. Deco’s recent trip to Madrid was aimed at defining a strategy for Álvarez’s potential arrival and assessing the real chances of completing his transfer, as Atlético has consistently refused to negotiate.

Barcelona remains confident in its ability to bring in Álvarez and intends to explore all available options to integrate him into the squad for the 2026-27 season. However, the club is also reportedly not prepared to make an excessive offer or wait indefinitely, as Flick is pressing for a resolution. This week is considered decisive in determining the feasibility of securing Álvarez.

Source: goal.com