Barcelona's Pursuit of Julián Álvarez and Late No.9 Options
Barcelona have hit pause on their pursuit of Julián Álvarez, turning their attention to alternative striking options as the transfer window ticks towards its close, a source has told ESPN.
The club have not abandoned Álvarez entirely. Far from it. The door remains open to a future move, even as early as January. But Atlético Madrid’s refusal to negotiate for the Argentina international has forced sporting director Deco back to the market board.
Hansi Flick, installed this summer with a clear idea of how his Barça should attack, has been firm: he wants a classic No.9. The exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have stripped the squad of its senior centre-forward profiles, and the German coach views that position as non‑negotiable for a long, demanding season.
Inside the club, though, not everyone shares that sense of urgency. Some influential figures believe the squad already carries enough firepower and flexibility to cope without a new striker if the right deal does not emerge.
Álvarez remains the name circled in red. As reported by ESPN earlier this year, he has long been Barça’s priority target for the role, and the Spanish champions tested Atlético’s resolve with an offer in the region of €100 million earlier in the summer. It was rejected.
Atlético have held a hard line ever since. Despite Álvarez publicly telling ESPN that he wants to change clubs, the Madrid side have insisted the former Manchester City forward is not for sale. Barcelona hoped those comments might crack Atlético’s stance, or at least open a small window. Instead, the situation has barely budged.
According to the source, Barça now accept that, barring a “radical” late twist, a deal for Álvarez is off the table for this month. The focus, for now, shifts to contingency plans.
Flick still wants a No.9, even if it is not Álvarez. The debate is over how creative Barça are willing to be. Within the current squad, several names have been pushed as possible solutions through the middle: Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon and even Lamine Yamal have all been mentioned as options to operate centrally.
Fermín López and Dani Olmo have experience as false nines, another route Flick could lean on. The only natural centre-forward who has actually gone through preseason with the first team, though, is 18-year-old Egypt international Hamza Abdelkarim — a talent, but raw and untested at the highest level.
Earlier in the window, Barcelona sounded out moves for João Pedro and Junior Kroupi. Those avenues have closed. João Pedro has signed a new contract with Chelsea, while Bournemouth striker Kroupi faces up to four months out with a foot injury, ruling out any immediate deal.
New names keep landing on Deco’s desk. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez and Sporting CP forward Luis Suárez have both been linked in recent weeks, but the cost of either operation is currently seen as beyond Barça’s reach.
One source also revealed that Barça have tracked Benjamin Sesko for years. For now, though, prising the Manchester United attacker away is viewed as impossible under the present conditions.
Attention has also turned to Villarreal. Ayoze Pérez and Georges Mikautadze have both been discussed internally, with a source saying the club have been particularly impressed by Mikautadze’s underlying data and his performances since arriving in Spain.
The clock is running, the options are narrowing, and Flick’s demand for a No.9 has not gone away. Barcelona know exactly what they want. The question now is whether the market will give it to them before the window slams shut.
