Julian Álvarez to Stay at Atlético Madrid, Barcelona’s Transfer Plans Shift
As the 2024-25 La Liga season nears its end, Atlético Madrid has confirmed that star forward Julián Álvarez will stay at the club, putting an end to months of speculation about a potential move to FC Barcelona. The decision is a major blow to the Catalan side, who had hoped to secure the Argentine striker to strengthen their attacking line under new manager Hansi Flick.
Atlético sees Álvarez—who has netted 29 goals this season—as a key figure for their future. Backed by Diego Simeone, the club is committed to building a team around him to challenge for domestic and European honors.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is preparing for a summer of major transition. Several players, including Ansu Fati, Pablo Torre, Víctor POW, and Iñaki Peña, are expected to leave, either on loan or permanent deals. Fati is especially close to joining AS Monaco.
Despite financial constraints, Barcelona remains ambitious. The club is pursuing Luis Díaz (Liverpool) and Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) to bolster their attack. Díaz is highly valued by Flick and has expressed interest in joining Barça, though his €70–85M price tag may pose challenges. Rashford, eager to make the switch, is even willing to take a pay cut, with a deal potentially valued at €47M.
Internally, the club is securing the future of 17-year-old talent Lamine Yamal, who is set to become the highest-paid player under a new La Liga youth regulation.
Barcelona is also eyeing Joan García, the young Espanyol goalkeeper, as a long-term prospect. With a release clause of €25–30M, García has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Newcastle.
Atlético Madrid’s move to retain Álvarez underscores their growing ambitions, while Barcelona must now adapt and pursue other targets to stay competitive both in Spain and in Europe.
