Atletico Madrid superstar continues to be a future option for Barcelona – report

With Raphinha settling in as an elite number nine for Barcelona, the conversation around the club requiring a new striker has died down.

Julian Alvarez, after all, was the talk of the town for several months after the club confirmed the departure of Robert Lewandowski, and the intensity of rumours only grew after Ferran Torres’ exit.

In the end, Atletico Madrid did not permit the transfer and forced Alvarez to stay, putting an end to Barcelona’s hopes.

Deco, the club’s sporting director, hinted in a more recent interview that Julian Alvarez was a matter of the past, bringing up speculation that the Catalans have now discarded the Argentine star’s name as an option.

An important clarification

Still on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Now, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano in a recent update via SPORT, the interest from Barcelona is still alive and the sporting director’s words were misinterpreted largely.

According to the Italian journalist, Barcelona believe they have built a top-class team and that they do not require any distractions as matters stand. When Deco says Julian is in the past, it only implies that it is time to focus on the ongoing season.

The journalist also clarifies that Barcelona have not discarded the striker’s name and that the summer of 2027 may well see the topic rise again. The club, however, want to erase the noise until that decisive window appears.

Alvarez is suffering

Deco has not discarded the Alvarez option. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

After making it clear that he wanted to leave in the summer, Alvarez has not had it easy at Atletico Madrid this season.

As matters stand, the player has not been a starter in any of his side’s matches in the league so far and only started in the UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool.

A departure in the next summer window, thus, appears to be the only solution remaining for the player who is clearly not happy under Diego Simeone.

Barcelona is his dream, and it remains to be seen if his club permits the deal one year down the line.