€150 million hurdle forces Barcelona to set Alvarez deadline

€150 million is the price tag Barcelona must consider to outbid Real Madrid for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who publicly declared his wish to leave fifteen days ago after an Argentina World Cup match. President Joan Laporta confirmed Barcelona have already submitted an offer, while Atletico have lodged a complaint with the RFEF and FIFA, signalling a rapidly evolving transfer saga.

At his first press conference after returning as president on 1 July, Laporta revealed the club’s proposal for Alvarez had been rejected by Atletico because they believed they lacked a replacement. He added that Barcelona’s offer remains on the table but will not be kept open indefinitely.

New coach Hansi Flick is scheduled to begin work with the available squad members next week, ahead of the team’s pre‑season camp in England. The camp starts on 27 July, and Flick wants transfer clarity before that trip, unlike previous summers when negotiations stretched to the window’s final days.

Barcelona have therefore set a tight timeframe to decide whether talks with Atletico can be revived. Simultaneously, the club continues to scout alternative attacking targets, reinforcing that they will not wait forever for Alvarez.

Atletico Madrid publicly maintain that Alvarez is not for sale, yet they acknowledge that the circumstances have shifted since his statement. The club’s earlier mockery on social media after Barcelona’s initial bid has given way to a more serious tone following the Argentine’s comments.

Atletico now face a dilemma: either sell the striker for the highest possible fee or persuade him to reverse his remarks and stay. Both options are described as far from straightforward by sources close to the situation.

Barcelona have no intention of matching the €150 million Real Madrid offer that Atletico rejected earlier. Laporta emphasised that, under La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule, the club will not spend recklessly.

People close to Alvarez say his public declaration was a carefully considered move, not a fleeting impulse. His entourage believes he is unlikely to change his mind within the two‑week window since the comments.

Consequently, the transfer saga is expected to conclude well before the 31 August deadline.