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Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez held a meeting with head coach Diego Simeone on Wednesday and reportedly "pushed hard" for a transfer, standing firm on his wish to depart the Spanish capital.
Only two years into his deal with Los Rojiblancos, Alvarez is eager to find a new club. The Argentine publicly called for a transfer during the 2026 World Cup, stating the move would be "best for everyone involved."
The request came amid Barcelona's pursuit of Alvarez, who remains the club's top target to replace the outgoing Robert Lewandowski. The Catalans have already tabled a €100 million ($114 million) bid for the striker, which Atlético Madrid turned down, consistently maintaining that Alvarez is unavailable — a message also directed at Real Madrid following their half-hearted €150 million ($171.4 million) approach for the 26-year-old.
ESPN reports that Alvarez is not backing down. The Argentina international sat down with Simeone on Wednesday and once again expressed his wish to depart Atlético. The coach "understood the situation" and "remained open throughout," but stressed that Alvarez is a "key player" for the squad and that "the rest" is a matter for the club to decide.
By the conclusion of the talks, Alvarez was left "resigned," though he continues to hold out hope for a "change of heart" from Atlético Madrid.
Alvarez Hit With the Consequences of His Contract
Alvarez's public campaign to leave Atlético Madrid carries a certain irony, given that the player himself agreed to a six-year contract with the club as recently as 2024 — complete with a €500 million ($576.7 million) release clause.
Engineering a transfer was always going to be a tall order with such an agreement in place, particularly one to Barcelona, a club perpetually weighed down by financial difficulties. Yet Alvarez has envisioned a scenario in which his club would allow him to break his contract and move directly to their rivals — who happen to be the reigning Spanish champions.
Arsenal were also said to have shown interest in the forward, but the Gunners appear hesitant to commit such a substantial fee for a player who managed just 20 goals in 49 appearances last season, with only eight of those coming in La Liga.
Alvarez's reputation took a further hit following a disappointing World Cup campaign with Argentina. He scored just one goal in eight tournament appearances — the same output as center backs Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero.
Nevertheless, Barcelona's desire to sign him is no secret, though according to ESPN, Atlético Madrid "insist" Alvarez will not be sold to the Catalan club.
What's Barcelona's Next Move?
Despite Atlético Madrid's firm stance, Barcelona continue to push for Alvarez as their new first-choice striker. Hansi Flick has already seen Lewandowski depart this summer, and Ferran Torres is reportedly edging closer to a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
The German manager now faces the prospect of defending the La Liga title without a single natural, first-team striker at his disposal. Alvarez would instantly address the void in Barcelona's attack — but only if a deal that looks increasingly improbable can somehow be made to work.
ESPN reports that the defending Spanish champions had been waiting for Alvarez's meeting with Simeone "before making another move." With that meeting now concluded, Barcelona are free to act.
The club would need to return with a bid surpassing Real Madrid's already-rejected offer, which seems unlikely given that Barcelona are simultaneously engaged in tense negotiations with Manchester City over Rodri.
As things stand, Barcelona look set to begin the season without a striker, while Alvarez appears equally likely to remain at the Metropolitano.