World Cup
Barcelona's €130‑140m bid for Álvarez tests Atlético's release clause
Barcelona are preparing a renewed bid of €130‑140m for 26‑year‑old Argentine striker Julián Álvarez, according to senior Relevo reporter Matteo Moretto. The offer marks a significant rise from the earlier €120m ceiling that Atlético Madrid rejected earlier this summer in the transfer window.
Initial negotiations saw Barcelona set a ceiling around €120m, a figure Atlético Madrid dismissed before the club drafted a stronger second proposal. The gap between the clubs' positions has defined the saga, prompting Barcelona to consider a higher range.
The €130‑140m range is expected to combine a fixed fee with performance‑related add‑ons, echoing earlier reports of a package deal rather than a straight cash transfer. Santi Ovalle had previously suggested Barcelona’s offer would sit between €120m and €130m, so the new upper bound pushes the bid further than earlier signals.
It remains unclear whether Atlético Madrid have been formally consulted on the revised valuation or if Barcelona is merely preparing internally. Atlético’s publicly stated position cites a €500m release clause as the baseline, indicating no willingness to negotiate near the €130‑140m figure.
Barcelona’s LaLiga financial situation means a €140m package would significantly affect registration and squad‑salary management. Álvarez, identified as the primary striker target after Lewandowski, has no credible alternative emerging in reports, increasing the pressure on the Blaugrana to secure his signature.
If the €130‑140m figure is heavily weighted toward add‑ons, the guaranteed component may be considerably lower than the headline suggests. Atlético maintains a hardline stance, under no obligation to sell, and its €500m release clause dwarfs any figure Barcelona has floated.
The dispute has taken on a political dimension, with Atlético threatening a FIFA complaint over Barcelona’s conduct in pursuing the player. Meanwhile, an alternative route involving Arsenal, reportedly structured around a deal that could include Viktor Gyökeres, remains alive.