Atletico Madrid star open to move away amid heavy Barcelona interest

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Atletico Madrid star open to move away amid heavy Barcelona interest originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While the Summer transfer window will see tons of players have their names included in some rather big-money moves across the globe, one player has risen to the top of the rumor mill for some time now: Julian Alvarez. The Atletico Madrid player lit up the Metropolitano this season, getting involved in the creation of 29 goals, 20 of which came from his own foot. While this is a seven-goal involvement reduction from his debut with the Madrid-based club, he'd play a huge role in Atletico's trip to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

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These efforts haven't gone unnoticed by some of the top names across the continent, as Real Madrid was linked with a €150 million bid for the Argentine after Florentino Perez secured victory in Bernabeu's recent election for the club presidency. But this bid would be instantly rejected by Los Blancos' cross-town rivals, which would also impact the interest by Barcelona, who were interested in Alvarez, as they would now have to fork up some serious money in order for a move to be made.

The Catalan club was looking towards the Metropolitano star as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left the Camp Nou after the expiration of his contract with the La Liga champions. Alvarez's 20 goals are more than what the Polish forward put up in Catalonia this season, but aren't anywhere near what he was known to put up in recent years. He'd still more than fit into the system present at Barcelona.

Yet the Alvarez transfer saga is set to open a new chapter after the World Cup winner made a shocking admission on Monday.

Alvarez's blunt admission

Alvarez dropped a quote, following his national team's victory over Austria in the second match day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, that would send the football world in motion.

I try to be an honest person," Alvarez stated to reporters on Monday afternoon. "I spoke with Atletico de Madrid, and I think a transfer is the best option. I want to fulfill my dream.”

Given that the Argentine has only recently made this shocking admission, the Catalan-based club has yet to make any move, but it appears that they could have to pay up to €500 million, which is the release clause that is located in Alvarez's contract with Atletico. If the Catalan club isn't to pay that fee, any bid they could submit will have to be quite substantial given the time that Alvarez has left on his existing deal, which isn't set to run out until June 2030.

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