€100m La Liga star still on Barcelona radar, deal dependent on multiple factors | OneFootball

With Robert Lewandowski entering the final year of his contract at FC Barcelona at the age of 37, the Catalan club is already preparing for a future without the prolific Polish striker.

While there remains a little possibility of Lewandowski staying for another season, the club is actively exploring options to strengthen its attacking line for the long term.

In fact, Barcelona have been linked with several exciting names for this purpose in recent times, and one of the most high-profile of these names has been the Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.

Although some recent reports have claimed that the Blaugranes have watered down their interest in the Argentine, and despite public attempts by president Joan Laporta to downplay interest, SPORT claims that Alvarez remains highly admired within the club.

Barcelona see Alvarez as a long-term, fully amortisable signing who could complement Ferran Torres in the attack and secure the club’s offensive future.

However, several conditions would need to align for a move to materialize. Atletico Madrid recently received investment from US fund Apollo Sports Capital, leaving the club financially well-positioned and unlikely to sell cheaply.

Alvarez himself has a contract until 2030 with a release clause of €500 million, meaning his willingness to leave would be essential. The player is known to be a fan of Lionel Messi and has long dreamed of wearing Barcelona’s colors.

Should Atletico finish the season trophyless, it could further motivate the €100 million-rated Argentine forward to seek a project that guarantees silverware.

Barcelona also face financial challenges in completing a deal. The club is close to returning to the 1:1 status and expects additional revenue from the reopening of Spotify Camp Nou, which will reach a capacity of over 100,000 in the 2026/27 season.

Even with Lewandowski’s departure freeing up wages, a high-profile player sale would likely be required to fund a transfer fee of €100 million or more.

While signing Julian Alvarez would be complex and dependent on multiple factors, Barcelona remain confident that the necessary conditions could be met.

The club is clearly preparing for a long-term solution in attack, and Alvarez is seen as a marquee option to carry the Catalan project forward.