FC Barcelona is still intent on acquiring a new center-forward before the transfer window closes, with Julian Alvarez remaining their top target.
Nevertheless, Atletico Madrid’s unwillingness to negotiate has compelled the Catalan club to explore other alternatives.
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One name that has emerged as a potential candidate for Barcelona is Vangelis Pavlidis, the prolific Greek striker currently with Benfica.
As reported by Portuguese outlet Record (via Mundo Deportivo), Benfica has now deemed him virtually untouchable and will only consider an “irresistible offer” for his transfer.
Benfica’s Shift in Position
The report indicates that Benfica has no plans to sell Pavlidis, and by the end of July, they had not received any formal bids for the striker.
This marks a stark contrast to the situation at the end of last season when Pavlidis was uncertain about his future, fearing a sale after Benfica’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Barcelona is keeping a close watch on Pavlidis. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
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His past concerns are understandable given a tough period where he netted only three goals from February to May.
However, everything changed at the start of the current campaign, as Pavlidis delivered an outstanding performance in Benfica’s Europa League qualifier against Saint Gallen, scoring four goals in a dominant 5-0 victory that secured their qualification.
This display revitalized his standing within the club, garnering praise from teammates and a warm welcome back from fans as the team’s leading striker.
Marco Silva Declares Him Untouchable
New Benfica manager Marco Silva, who replaced Jose Mourinho this summer, has made it clear that Pavlidis is one of the players the club intends to keep, emphasizing not just his goal-scoring ability but his work ethic and overall contribution to the team’s play style.
Will Barcelona pursue Pavlidis? (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
For Silva, the Greek international is foundational to his project and is not available for transfer.
Barcelona Monitoring the Situation
Barcelona continues to evaluate various striking options while pursuing Alvarez, and Pavlidis remains a player of interest for their sporting department.
However, Benfica’s current position complicates any potential transfer.
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After acquiring Pavlidis from AZ Alkmaar for €18 million in 2024, Benfica now values him significantly higher following his impressive tally of 30 goals in each of his first two seasons with the club.
Unless an outstanding offer is made, Benfica appears committed to keeping their star striker for the 2026-27 season.