Tonight at the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in La Liga, and all attention will be on Julian Alvarez.
The 25-year-old Argentine striker is among the candidates being considered by the Catalan club as a potential successor to Robert Lewandowski, targeted for the summer of 2026.
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Atletico Madrid Aiming to Extend Alvarez’s Contract
According to MARCA, Atletico Madrid’s director, Mateu Alemany, is prioritizing keeping Alvarez at the club, working on a contract extension for the striker that president Joan Laporta sees as an ideal signing.
With a €500 million release clause and a contract running until 2030, Atletico is fully convinced that Alvarez is irreplaceable in their post-Griezmann era. The club imagines no future without him.
In fact, club president Enrique Cerezo made it clear in a recent interview that the striker is an integral part of their plans and will not be sold.
Laporta’s dream target. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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Alvarez, meanwhile, is content at Atletico Madrid and even declined an attractive offer from PSG last summer to stay at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
At Barcelona, both Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick agree that at 25, already a World Cup champion with Argentina, Alvarez represents a marquee addition, second only to Erling Haaland in their ideal targets.
Laporta is determined to exhaust every avenue to overcome Barcelona’s financial constraints. Whether through economic strategies or major player sales, he believes the club must do everything possible to bring Alvarez to Camp Nou.
However, for Alemany, keeping Alvarez at Atletico is not only essential but a top priority. The plan includes offering a renewed, enhanced contract to solidify his status as a franchise player for at least the next five years.
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Although formal discussions about a renewal have not yet commenced, initial outreach has occurred to demonstrate commitment. Alemany also has the backing of new investors, Apollo, to secure Alvarez’s future and create a competitive squad around him.