Barcelona have decided to hold their decisive push for Julián Alvarez until after the World Cup. The club will wait until the tournament ends, or until Argentina’s participation ends, before making what is expected to be their final attempt. The first members of Hansi Flick’s squad are due back for preseason on 13 July, so the timing is already mapped out.
Barcelona's timing around the World Cup
That pause is the clearest part of the story. Joan Laporta said, "Dreams come true if you work and fight for them. Hopefully we can fulfill the dreams of the players who want to come to Barca." Barcelona are using that kind of patience here, even while the pursuit has already moved through several stages.
Jordi Jota said, "Three days ago there have been meetings [with Atletico Madrid]." That sits alongside reports that Barcelona are preparing to come back with a fresh proposal once the World Cup window opens again. The question is less whether they are interested than when they choose to make the next move.
Atletico's resistance and the price being discussed
Atletico Madrid are not in a hurry to make this easy. Barcelona made a €100 million verbal proposal on May 29, and Atletico rejected it. A new offer could reach around €130 million, but Atletico are still pointing to Alvarez’s €500 million release clause.
Alvarez has also been open about how he sees things. He told teamtalk.com, "I spoke with the people at [Atletico] I needed to speak with, and the best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream. It's not the time to talk about this, but I also can't hide it. I try to be an honest person." Marc Pubill added, "If Julian isn't happy at Atletico, we'll see what happens, but I understand he will leave."
That does not mean a deal is done. It does show why Barcelona are still circling, and why the next move looks more like a timed follow-up than a first approach. The club have a clear runway before preseason starts on 13 July, and Alvarez remains the player they are planning around.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
