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Diego Simeone remains firmly committed to keeping Julián Alvarez in his plans through 2026–27 and beyond, despite the striker openly expressing his wish to depart Atlético Madrid.
Alvarez stunned journalists following Argentina's World Cup victory against Austria last month when he stated: "A transfer is what's best for all parties, and I want to make my dream a reality."
The forward confirmed he had already held discussions with Atlético's hierarchy on the matter. While Alvarez stopped short of naming Barcelona or any specific club, a move to Camp Nou is widely understood to be his intended destination, and it has been reported that Atlético hold Barcelona responsible for the player going public with his stance.
Formal complaints have been lodged with FIFA and Spain's football governing body (RFEF). Barcelona may feel they have plausible deniability given Alvarez's deliberately vague comments, as president Joan Laporta noted: "He didn't mention Barça ... we didn't push this." However, Laporta added that an offer remains "on the table."
Alvarez the 'Best' Atlético Have Had
Simeone clearly disagrees that a transfer, as Alvarez suggested, "is best for everyone."
The Atlético manager has publicly stated his intention to retain the 26-year-old as a cornerstone of his squad.
"He is the player we, as a club and as a team, see as someone to build our style of play around," Simeone told ESPN Argentina this week. "That has been our approach since he joined and it continues to be our position."
Simeone further described Alvarez as the "best we've had at Atlético" since his arrival in 2024. As a fellow Argentine, the manager is also eager to see his player continue to shine for the national side during the remainder of the World Cup.
Alvarez Alternatives Barcelona Could Sign
Should Atlético hold firm on retaining Alvarez, potentially against his own wishes, Barcelona would need to look at other options to fill the No. 9 role vacated by Robert Lewandowski.
The most appealing candidate would likely be Harry Kane, who shares a comparable profile to Lewandowski when the Polish striker first arrived in Catalonia four years ago. The England skipper has just one year remaining on his Bayern Munich deal, leaving a narrow window open for Barcelona, though recent reports indicate a contract extension is now the expected outcome.
Kane appears content in Germany, even as Barça have reportedly looked into the financial feasibility of a potential move.
One established striker available without requiring a transfer fee is Dušan Vlahović, who has entered free agency following the expiration of his Juventus contract.
At his peak, the Serbian forward netted more than 20 goals across multiple Serie A campaigns, though his output declined at Juventus due to a system that suited him less than his time at former club Fiorentina. A lack of overall creativity was also a factor, though that concern largely disappears when Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Anthony Gordon, and Pedri are providing the support.
An unexpected option could be Mohamed Salah. The 34-year-old built his Liverpool career on the flank, but a shift to a more central role could make sense in the technically demanding environment of La Liga—operating as a false nine rather than a conventional striker. He would not displace Yamal in the starting lineup regardless.
On the subject of Egyptian talent, Omar Marmoush is another name worth considering. Cast your mind back two years and it was the frustration of playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland that contributed to Alvarez's exit from Manchester City—a situation Marmoush could find himself in as well.
Last season proved difficult for the 27-year-old, who struggled with inconsistent playing time and featured in Premier League starting lineups on just eight occasions. Prior to that, he had been scoring at nearly a goal-per-game rate in the Bundesliga during a breakthrough 2024–25 campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt.