​Barcelona are awaiting a response from Atletico Madrid after submitting an offer for Julian Alvarez, yet remain prepared to proceed without a centre-forward signing if a deal cannot be reached. The Spanish champions have made Alvarez their top target for the summer transfer window, though Atletico are hesitant to approve selling the striker to a domestic rival. Earlier in the window, Atletico rejected a €150 million bid from Real Madrid and are now evaluating Barcelona’s proposal. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club lodged an offer, but noted it was rejected because Atletico apparently had no replacement lined up. Alvarez has publicly signaled his desire to leave Atletico this summer. Laporta indicated the offer remains on the table for Alvarez, who has scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for the Rojiblancos.
However, if a deal cannot be agreed, Laporta said Barcelona are content with their current squad. He argued that the £69 million signing of Anthony Gordon helps to cover many of the positions they aimed to strengthen. Barcelona also bid farewell to Robert Lewandowski, who left for MLS side Chicago Fire as a free agent. “That offer will stand from our end, but it won’t remain forever,” Laporta told reporters at a Camp Nou event last week, according to The Athletic. “Atletico know what our intentions are. There is an offer; Atletico have it, and if there is an option to discuss it, we would be happy to do so. If we don’t add anything else, I am fine with it. We will be competitive regardless. If we improve the team a little bit more, of course it would help, especially in competitions where luck plays a significant role. Anthony Gordon’s arrival helps us cover a lot of the departments we wanted to strengthen.”
Barcelona’s board currently lacks consensus on backup options should the Alvarez deal fail to materialize. The club has ruled out pursuing Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane as unrealistic, while there are internal reservations about Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and free agent Dusan Vlahovic. In short, while Alvarez remains the preferred option, Barcelona are preparing contingencies and remain open to adjustments depending on how the negotiations with Atletico unfold and what alternatives might become available. The situation marks a pivotal moment for Barcelona as they navigate a summer of potential upheaval and strategic reinforcements, seeking to balance immediate competitive needs with long-term squad planning.