ไทย
English
中國人
Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo has volunteered himself as an option for manager Hansi Flick should the La Liga champions fail to land Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez.
Álvarez, who has also drawn attention from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, stated following Argentina's 2–0 win against Austria at the World Cup that he wants to "fulfil his dream" amid growing interest from Barça.
"I spoke with people at the club [Atléti], with those I had to speak with and the best thing for everyone is a transfer and I want to fulfil my dream," Álvarez told reporters on June 26.
"It's not the time to talk about this, but I also can't hide it. I try to be an honest person."
Real Madrid withdrew from the race for the Argentine forward after a $173 million (€150 million) bid was turned down, and Atléti have already taken aim at Barça's attempts to acquire the 26-year-old. The La Liga champions won't be patient indefinitely, and a moment may come when Barça are forced to look elsewhere.
'I Feel Comfortable There'—Dani Olmo Happy to Cover at Striker
While fans are eagerly hoping for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski this summer—ideally Álvarez—Barcelona's own Olmo is confident the squad possesses sufficient quality to manage even without the Argentine's arrival.
"I see Ferran Torres, a player who scored a lot of goals last year and will continue to do so because he's a great player, and now we also have [Anthony] Gordon, who I understand can also play in this position," he told Mundo Deportivo.
"So we have enough players to cover it, and if others arrive, they'll be welcome to add to the squad."
Olmo also left open the possibility of being deployed as an out-and-out striker, citing his effective performances as a free-roaming attacking midfielder: "I've already played in this position and I wouldn't have any problem playing there if the manager considers it necessary. I feel comfortable there."
Despite the Spaniard's confidence as a potential stopgap, there is little doubt that Barcelona would be taking a significant risk by neglecting to sign a striker in the transfer window. This is a side that not only wants to defend its La Liga title but is also hungry to win the Champions League for the first time since 2015.
Gavi Shuts Down Barcelona's Potential Signing of Mikel Oyarzabal
Álvarez is set to be an extremely difficult deal to complete, and it seems likely that Barcelona will pursue an alternative should Atléti prove unwilling to negotiate.
Some have pointed to Spain international Mikel Oyarzabal as a viable option, with his strong performances for the national side continuing into the World Cup. The clinical Oyarzabal has netted four goals at the tournament so far, with La Roja advancing to the quarterfinals following their victory over Portugal in Dallas.
However, Oyarzabal's fellow Spaniard and Barcelona midfielder Gavi believes the 29-year-old will remain a loyal one-club player throughout his entire career.
Enable functional cookies to see this feature.
"I know Oyarzabal wants to be a Real Sociedad legend, and I think he will stay there forever," Gavi told Catalunya Radio.
Oyarzabal himself reaffirmed his commitment to La Real during his impressive World Cup run: "In football you never know what can happen, just like in life. But I've always said that San Sebastián is my home, I feel as if I've lived there all my life and I couldn't ask for more."