Joan Laporta’s advisor fuels belief Barcelona can move for world class striker – ‘I have no doubt’ | OneFootball

Barcelona are laying the groundwork for a future without Robert Lewandowski, and the club’s long-term planning is already beginning to take shape. 

As previously reported, one name continues to stand out above the rest: Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.

That idea has now gained fresh weight after comments from Enric Masip, a member of Barcelona’s sports commission and a trusted advisor to president Joan Laporta. 

Masip addressed not only Alvarez’s profile as a striker but also Barcelona’s financial situation and whether the club could realistically pull off such an operation in the near future.

What did he say?

When asked directly whether Alvarez would be an ideal replacement for Lewandowski at Barcelona, Masip offered a remarkably clear assessment. 

He did not hesitate, stating that “I would say yes, he is a great player, a player with incredible quality, and he is having a great season at Atletico.

“He is one of the greatest strikers in the world, that’s for sure,” he noted.

Notably, admiration alone does not sign players at Barcelona. The club’s Financial Fair Play restrictions remain a major obstacle. 

Barcelona are interested in signing Julian Alvarez. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barça are not currently operating under the 1/1 rule, meaning any major transfer requires careful planning, departures, and wage adjustments. 

Masip was fully aware of those concerns and addressed them directly when questioned about whether Barcelona could afford a move of this scale. 

In response, he pointed to the club’s internal confidence and the work already done behind the scenes. Referring to Laporta’s stance, Masip recalled: 

“The president said that Barça must always be in a position to sign whoever it considers necessary to strengthen the squad.

“I have no doubt it will be the case after the work we have done on the economic plan and, above all, on the issue of the squad and the salary balance between young players and veterans.”

Rather than stepping back, Masip doubled down on his optimism. 

He went a step further by insisting that “Barça could deal with that situation if it arose, I have no doubt that it will be so.”

Source: SPORT