Barcelona Pinpoint Their 'Perfect' Striker to Replace Robert Lewandowski as 'Standout Candidate' Emerges
Robert Lewandowski, approaching his 37th birthday in August, enters the concluding year of his Barcelona contract, with sources suggesting that Julián Álvarez has caught the attention of president Joan Laporta as the preferred successor.
Barcelona is already strategizing for the post-Lewandowski era, recognizing the challenge of replacing one of this century's finest strikers—the Polish star netted 42 goals in 2024–25, demonstrating his exceptional ability while guiding the Catalan club to a domestic treble triumph.
Laporta views Atlético Madrid's Álvarez, who experienced his first trophy-less campaign last season, as an ideal replacement who would seamlessly integrate with Hansi Flick's tactical approach and Barcelona's playing philosophy, according to The Athletic.
Laporta's interest in Álvarez has been brewing for some time. "La Araña" delivered an impressive inaugural campaign with Atlético, netting 29 goals and providing eight assists across 57 matches after his €95 million ($104 million at the time) transfer from Manchester City.
During a May interview, Atlético Madrid president Enrique Cerezo addressed the matter. When informed that Laporta had expressed admiration for Álvarez, Cerezo responded: "And I admire [Lamine] Yamal, so we share similar preferences."
Barcelona has no immediate plans to pursue Álvarez this summer, as Nico Williams has become their primary objective. Any potential move for the 2022 World Cup winner would be postponed until 2026–27, though such a transfer would present significant challenges.
Álvarez's representative Fernando Hidalgo recently discussed Barcelona's rumored interest with Argentinian media outlet TYC Sports.
"Given that he [Álvarez] admired Messi's journey from an early age, naturally most Argentinians harbor affection for Barcelona," Hidalgo explained. "Julián appreciates the kind words from various Barcelona players, including [Pau] Cubarsí.
"Atlético Madrid expects him to remain for the upcoming season," Hidalgo continued, while providing perspective on future possibilities. "Football is dynamic and ever-changing. We'll observe how discussions develop. They [Barcelona] would need to engage with the club [Atlético] for evaluation, leading to three-way negotiations."
What remains certain is that should the Argentine forward maintain his upward trajectory, few strikers worldwide possess the qualities necessary to fill Lewandowski's role at Barcelona.