Barcelona excited by Julian Alvarez gesture but maintain €100m limit for new striker – Report | OneFootball

As the 2025-26 season nears its conclusion, several changes are expected in the FC Barcelona squad for next season. One of the most notable is at the center-forward position, as Robert Lewandowski enters the final year of his contract and is highly likely to leave this summer.

Meanwhile, the Catalans have been linked with several players to replace him, and one of the most notable names on this list has been the Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.

Recently, former Barcelona president Joan Laporta praised Alvarez while stressing that any potential deal would need to respect strict financial parameters.

Coinciding with Laporta’s comments, Alvarez also left the door open to leaving Atletico after scoring twice in a 5-2 Champions League victory against Tottenham. When asked if he could guarantee he would remain at the club next season, he responded:

“I don’t know. Maybe yes, maybe no, you never know. But I’m very happy here. They asked me a question that ends up everywhere. I’m happy, I focus on day-to-day.”

This marks the second time in four months that Alvarez has cast doubt on his future. Back in November, he told L’Equipe, “There is a lot of talk about me and Barcelona, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”

At Barcelona, the forward’s situation is being closely monitored, and his recent remarks have excited the Catalan giants.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, financial parameters are strict. Assuming the club meets La Liga’s 1:1 salary fair play rule, Barcelona does not want to spend more than €100 million, including fixed and variable fees, for a center-forward.

For a move to materialize, Alvarez, or whichever forward is ultimately chosen, would need to actively push to join the club. His current relationship with Simeone is professional but not exceptional, which could make a transfer feasible if he expresses a strong desire to leave.

In short, while Alvarez’s talent makes him highly desirable for Barcelona, any move will require careful negotiation, financial prudence, and a clear indication of the player’s willingness to join the Blaugranes.