Barcelona ready to wait until deadline day for priority target; could also return in January | OneFootball

Barcelona ready to wait until deadline day for priority target; could also return in January | OneFootball

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Icon: Barca Universal

Barca Universal

·18 August 2026

Barcelona ready to wait until deadline day for priority target; could also return in January

Article image:Barcelona ready to wait until deadline day for priority target; could also return in January

Barcelona have no intention of abandoning their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, even if a deal proves impossible before the summer transfer window closes.

According to Jota Jordi on El Chiringuito TV (h/t FCB World), the Catalan giants are prepared to keep the operation alive until the final moments of the window. 


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Furthermore, should Atletico Madrid continue to block a move, Barcelona could return for the Argentine striker in January with another offer in the region of €100 million.

The club have already tested Atletico’s resolve with a €100 million offer earlier in the summer, while Alvarez has publicly spoken about his desire to leave in order to fulfil a “dream”. 

Atletico, however, have refused to open the door, leaving Barcelona waiting for the situation to change, with the player himself now holding a major role in what happens next.

Barcelona willing to wait until the final day

Jota Jordi’s update points towards a patient approach from Barcelona rather than an immediate decision to move on to another target.

Article image:Barcelona ready to wait until deadline day for priority target; could also return in January

Julian Alvarez wants to move to Barcelona. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The club is willing to wait until the final second of the transfer window in the hope that the pressure surrounding Alvarez’s future eventually forces a breakthrough. 

The striker has returned to training, but uncertainty over his position at Atletico continues to dominate the situation.

Barcelona’s interest is not new, and neither is their willingness to spend heavily on the Argentine. 

The €100 million figure has remained central to negotiations, with the Blaugrana viewing Alvarez as one of their key targets.

Furthermore, the entire fiasco has also become difficult for Atletico to simply brush aside. Yet they have stood firm throughout the summer. 

Alvarez remains under contract, and the club has made it clear that they do not want to lose one of their most important forwards.

Article image:Barcelona ready to wait until deadline day for priority target; could also return in January

Alvarez is set for a crucial meeting with Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

That difference between the two sides is why the player’s next conversation with the Atletico hierarchy could prove decisive.

Meeting with Gil Marin could bring clarity

As reported before, a meeting between Alvarez and Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin is expected to take place in the coming days after being delayed several times.

Alvarez is expected to push Atletico to change their stance and allow negotiations with Barcelona to begin. 

Until now, the clubs have been stuck on opposite sides of the situation. Hence, the meeting could finally establish whether there is room for a compromise.

Barcelona do not need Atletico to suddenly accept their current offer. What they need first is for the club to become willing to sit at the negotiating table. 

If Alvarez can convince Gil Marin to take that step, the Julian Alvarez to Barcelona operation could then enter a new phase.

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