Barcelona’s strong proposal to acquire Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez remains valid, but it will not last indefinitely, as warned by Barça president Joan Laporta.
The Spanish champions have shown great interest in signing the Argentina international, yet have struggled to finalize the deal thus far.
Upon arriving in Dallas, Texas, where Spain will compete against France in the World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, Laporta declined to disclose the financial details of the offer but stated, “We’ve made a finite offer for Álvarez, and we will shortly announce its validity period.”
The offer aims to secure a player valued by both the sports management and the coach. “I believe he is an exceptional player; we are committed to our significant offer, but it is not open-ended,” Laporta reiterated.
Barcelona faces competition from various clubs for the signing of the former Manchester City player this summer.
Álvarez, who transitioned to Atlético in the summer of 2024 for a starting fee of €75 million ($86 million) from Man City, is also a potential target for Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Currently under contract until June 2030, Álvarez, 26, recently shared with ESPN that he has communicated his desire to move to Atlético’s management. The club turned down a €150 million bid from Real Madrid for Álvarez last month, who is currently participating in the World Cup.
The Rojiblancos are also hesitant to allow Álvarez to join their LaLiga rivals, Barcelona.
Laporta emphasized that his club will not engage in a bidding war for Álvarez. “Regarding Julián’s transfer, we will set our own terms without succumbing to external pressures,” he stated. “I have had an open and clear conversation with [Atlético Madrid CEO] Miguel Ángel Gil, ensuring we maintain a strong relationship. There was some initial misunderstanding regarding our offer, which I clarified.”
“As per my understanding, we have not exerted additional pressure; I simply informed him that this offer is available as long as they have another option besides Álvarez, and that is where it stands for now.”
Additionally, Laporta confirmed the imminent signing of German forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. Adeyemi will be Barcelona’s second acquisition of the summer following the recruitment of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.
“We are very enthusiastic about Adeyemi,” Laporta remarked. “We’ve had our eyes on him for some time. He’s agile and quick, and our sporting director, Deco, has managed the signing exceptionally well.”
Laporta also confirmed that Brazilian forward Raphinha will remain with the team.
Raphinha is contracted to Barcelona until June 2028 and has been a prospect for Saudi Pro-League clubs. “Raphinha is definitely staying,” Laporta assured. “With Gordon and Adeyemi joining, we are enhancing our attack, but Raphinha is critical for us and will not be leaving.”
“It’s unfortunate that he was unable to deliver his best performance during the crucial stages of the league, Champions League, and Copa del Rey last season, as the outcomes could have been different.”
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Laporta also addressed rumors about forward Ferran Torres potentially leaving this summer amid interest from PSG.
“I’ve heard those rumors, but we are not aware of any interest. He’s a Barça player and one of the 14 players we’ve had in this World Cup.”
Former Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been a standout performer in the tournament.
Messi, now 39, has been pivotal in leading Argentina to the semifinals, scoring eight goals and assisting twice in six matches.
Laporta praised Messi’s World Cup performance, stating, “His display has been remarkable. Eight goals, some truly stunning, illustrate his enduring talent … Argentina thrives around Messi; they form a close-knit unit, and they’re fortunate to have him, as he consistently inspires them.”