Julián Álvarez is still pushing for a move to Barcelona!
Since last summer, Argentine player Julián Álvarez has expressed his desire to move and pursue his dream away from the Spanish capital. Since then, the "red" faction of Madrid's fanbase has seized every opportunity to criticize him; matters even escalated to the point where they began jeering him.
Press reports today indicate that Álvarez is willing to wait until next January to realize his dream of moving to Barcelona—targeting the start of 2027—after the club previously withdrew from the deal. Atlético Madrid had flatly refused to let him join a direct rival like Barcelona, though they had been open to a move to Arsenal.
Alvarez is still pushing for a move to Barcelona
Word out of Spain suggests Álvarez has had enough of the harsh reception he's been getting from the Atlético faithful, and he's now prepared to force a January switch to Barcelona. Here's the catch, though: the Catalans may no longer be interested, since Raphinha has been tearing up the season in such spectacular fashion.
The relationship between Julián Álvarez and the Atlético Madrid fanbase has been strained since last August, following his public declaration to the media of his desire to leave for Barcelona; even during Atlético Madrid's recent victory, the player appeared unsettled when coming off the bench amidst jeers from the crowd.
What a fiery saga last summer turned out to be. Barcelona dangled roughly €100 million, spread across three campaigns, only for Atlético to hold firm and demand €150 million outright. Laporta and the Madrid hierarchy then went to war in the press, trading one scathing statement after another, while Álvarez himself reportedly downed tools at one stage and refused to train.
Now the striker is itching to resurrect that escape route once January arrives — yet the picture looks nothing like it did before. Raphinha has been producing the football of his life, already sitting on 11 goals this term, which makes splashing nine figures on a forward anything but a priority at Camp Nou.
Add Arsenal quietly circling in the shadows, and the winter window could reignite this whole psychological battle. Álvarez, for his part, remains tied down until 2030, meaning Atlético still control the situation entirely — provided they can mend fences with their own supporters first.