Julian Alvarez move to Barcelona takes drastic turn

The Polish striker’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and, at 37, the expectation inside the club is that this will be his final campaign at Spotify Camp Nou.

His 78 league goals since arriving from Bayern have set a huge standard, but recurring injuries and reduced starts this year make succession planning unavoidable.

Barcelona has now effectively framed Julian Alvarez as their dream heir to the iconic No. 9 shirt. Joan Laporta is described as “still dreaming” of bringing in the Argentine, convinced that his blend of pressing, mobility, and finishing is tailor‑made for Hansi Flick’s system, as reported by Goal.

The problem is the price: Atlético Madrid is likely to demand well over €100 million and point to their €500 million release clause as leverage.

For a club still living under La Liga’s financial restrictions, that valuation turns a dream into a complex political and economic operation.

On the sporting side, Álvarez’s season has not fully matched the hype, which only complicates the debate.

His goal return in La Liga has been modest by elite‑striker standards, raising questions in Madrid but not cooling Barça’s interest.

While Laporta pushes for a marquee name to headline his re‑election message, Deco continues to examine cheaper alternatives like Dusan Vlahovic, who could arrive on a far more accessible deal.

The result is a tense strategic balance: Julian Alvarez remains the top name on the whiteboard, but the numbers could yet push Barcelona towards a different formula.

What’s clear is that Lewandowski’s era is approaching its final chapter, and the pressure to secure a worthy successor is growing.

Whether Barcelona can bend the market enough to land Álvarez, or are forced to pivot, will shape the next cycle of Flick’s project and the future of their No. 9 role.