Barcelona begin negotiations with La Liga club for transfer of priority signing | Barca Universal

Barcelona have entered direct negotiations with Atletico Madrid regarding a possible signing of Julian Alvarez. Barcelona view Alvarez as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski and are accelerating plans for a new attacking leader due to Lewandowski’s departure. Alvarez has reportedly rejected a renewal proposal from Atletico Madrid and is seeking a more ambitious sporting project. Barcelona and Alvarez are waiting for each other to make a decisive move, with Alvarez waiting for proof the transfer is financially possible and Barcelona seeking a stronger signal from the player. Atletico Madrid remain reluctant and demand more than €150 million, while Barcelona have explored cost-reduction options such as including Ferran Torres, which collapsed after Torres indicated he does not want to leave.

"Barcelona have entered into direct negotiations with Atletico Madrid over the possible signing of Julian Alvarez. Barcelona are seriously considering the Argentine striker as the long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, whose departure is now forcing the club to accelerate plans for a new attacking leader. The situation remains extremely complicated financially and politically, but there is now growing belief that Alvarez himself is becoming increasingly open to leaving Atletico Madrid."

"The latest developments suggest that Alvarez has already rejected a renewal proposal from Atletico Madrid, with the striker seeking a more ambitious sporting project moving forward. On that note, Barcelona's interest has intensified, especially as the club view the Argentine as one of the few forwards capable of leading the attack in the post-Lewandowski era. As such, reports also indicate that both sides are waiting for the other to make the decisive move."

"Alvarez is believed to be waiting for Barcelona to prove that a transfer is financially possible, while the Blaugrana are hoping for a stronger signal from the player himself to help push negotiations forward. Despite the growing optimism around the operation, Atletico Madrid remain reluctant to lose their franchise player and are demanding more than €150 million to even consider opening the door fully. However, Alvarez's desire to explore a new challenge has now created a complicated situation."

"Barcelona have also explored creative formulas to reduce the total cost of the operation. As reported before, one of the ideas discussed involved including Ferran Torres as part of the deal alongside a fixed transfer fee. That option, though, appears to have collapsed after Ferran made it clear that he does not want to leave Camp Nou this summer."

Read at Barca Universal