While Barcelona might have watched their Champions League adventure come to a disappointing end this month, Hansi Flick’s side are set to retain their domestic crown at a canter over the next week.
Holding a dominant nine-point advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid, the Spanish giants have reestablished themselves as La Liga’s ultimate poster boy.
Although the Catalonia hierarchy might still be juggling with some public financial restrictions, Barca are reportedly planning a frantic summer behind the scenes.
While Flick’s side might have watched their European charge come to an end at the hands of bitter domestic foes Atletico Madrid, Barcelona are circling over Diego Simeone’s attacking talisman.
With continued speculation that Polish record-breaker Robert Lewandowski could be ending his four-year spell in Catalonia this summer, Julian Alvarez is Flick’s dream target and the reigning Spanish champions could be willing to spend in excess of €100million.
Alvarez is Barcelona’s sole summer focus
Completing a blockbuster £81.5million switch to Atletico Madrid back in August 2024, Alvarez is clearly relishing life in the Spanish capital and has cemented his spot as one of Europe’s hottest attacking stars.
Making it clear when leaving Manchester City two years ago that he was not happy to play a backup role to Erling Haaland, Alvarez has firmly underlined his status as Atletico’s leading man.
However, while the Argentinian international might have made it clear that his sole focus is on Atletico’s upcoming Champions League semi-final showdown against Arsenal over the next week, Barcelona are circling over the World Cup-winner and have made their intentions perfectly clear.
Refusing to publicly pledge his long-term future to Simeone’s side, Alvarez has plenty of admirers in Catalonia and Flick has reportedly installed the ex-Man City starlet as his dream summer target.
Although Atletico might value Alvarez in excess of the £104million that they sold Antoine Griezmann to Barca for back in 2019, the Nou Camp hierarchy have already held initial conversations and are keen to get a deal agreed before the 26-year-old jets off to the World Cup in June.
Expected to partner former Barcelona icon and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi in Argentina’s attack over in North America this summer, Atletico have made it clear that they will not be bullied into parting ways with their leading goalscorer.
With his current deal in Madrid set to run until the summer of 2030, ESPN reported on Monday that the 51-cap international has a €500m release clause and are still keen on agreeing a bumper extension in an attempt to fend off Barca’s public interest.
Julian Alvarez remains Barcelona’s dream target this summer despite the difficult nature of financing a deal.
As revealed in January, Deco has held multiple meetings with the player’s camp but nothing is advanced yet.
Atletico will fight to keep Alvarez, and value him higher… pic.twitter.com/ek2rV8aimX
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) April 26, 2026