Barcelona top target feels betrayed by Atletico Madrid after fresh talks on Sunday  | OneFootball

While Real Madrid have been signing players at will this summer, Barcelona have found themselves on the back foot after initially announcing Anthony Gordon.

The Catalans have particularly failed to make any inroads in the race to sign top target Julian Alvarez, with Atletico Madrid not too keen on selling their star player to a direct rival.

This is despite the fact that Alvarez has publicly stated his desire to leave Atletico Madrid after a trophyless campaign.

Alvarez feels betrayed by Atleti CEO

According to Argentine journalist Leo Paradizo (h/t Carpetas FCB), the situation between Alvarez and Atletico Madrid has soured considerably, with the player feeling let down by the club’s hierarchy.

Julian Alvarez is yet to light up the World Cup so far. (Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)

The report claims that at the beginning of this year, Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin promised Alvarez that he would help facilitate his departure in the summer.

However, the player now feels that Gil has gone back on that promise and effectively lied to him.

The two parties reportedly spoke again on Sunday, but the sense of betrayal lingers, with Alvarez believing the club is not honouring the commitment it made to him earlier in the year.

What is Barcelona’s play now?

For Barcelona, the deteriorating relationship between Alvarez and Atletico could theoretically work in their favour, but the obstacles remain significant.

Alvarez has been overshadowed by Messi’s brilliance in World Cup so far. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

Alvarez is still pushing for a Camp Nou switch despite sustained pressure from within Atletico to reverse his decision. Barcelona remain his preferred destination, and the player has resisted every attempt to steer him elsewhere.

The problem is financial and increasingly competitive. Barcelona’s initial €100 million proposal failed to move negotiations forward, and the club are not in a position to match the kind of figures being discussed.

To make matters worse, the race for Alvarez is growing more crowded, with Manchester United having reportedly joined the long list of suitors, further complicating Barcelona’s pursuit.

It is partly for this reason that Barcelona have begun lining up alternatives. Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi has emerged as the club’s main alternative to Alvarez, though PSG and Liverpool are also keen on the 19-year-old.