Barcelona star backs club to sign Julian Alvarez in 2026 | OneFootball

Barcelona will seek to sign a new striker next summer, with it being almost certain that Robert Lewandowski will depart upon the expiry of his contract. They have been linked to a number of players in recent months, but one name has stood out above the rest: Julian Alvarez.

Alvarez has had a fantastic spell at Atletico Madrid, whom he signed for in 2024 in a big-money move from Manchester City. This season, he has six goals and an assist in La Liga, as he looks set to improve upon his 17 goals across all competitions in his debut campaign at the RiyadhAir Metropolitano.

Alvarez is well-liked within Barcelona, and there is little doubt that he would be a statement signing to start the post-Lewandowski era. One of those that wants the Argentina international to join is Marc Bernal, who revealed to Diari ARA (via Sport) that he would be his ideal signing for Hansi Flick’s side.

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In recent months, there has been talk of a rift between Alvarez and Atleti – particularly, head coach Diego Simeone. This has been cleared up now, but that slight uncertainty is something that Barcelona may be seeking to take advantage of, although it is extremely unlikely given that they will almost certainly not be able to afford whatever asking price is established by Los Colchoneros.

Bernal may need to wait for his dream signing

As a result, Barcelona may need to move on from Alvarez for the time being. They do have a number of low-cost striker options that could be sought instead, such as Karl Etta Eyong and Dusan Vlahovic. One of these could be signed in 2026, and further down the line, they could have chances to make a serious move for Alvarez – as long as they significantly improve their financial situation.