Barcelona have imposed a strict deadline on their pursuit of Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez, giving themselves just two to three days to finalize an agreement before walking away to pursue alternative targets.

The Argentine international has been identified by sporting director Deco and the Camp Nou hierarchy as their primary target to lead the attack and succeed Robert Lewandowski. However, negotiations with Atlético Madrid have proved challenging, with the capital club maintaining a firm stance that the World Cup winner is not on the market.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona will not drag the saga beyond the end of this week. If a breakthrough cannot be reached within the next 48 to 72 hours, the sporting management will immediately activate contingency plans to reinforce their attacking department before the transfer window shuts.

Fermín López endorses Alvarez pursuit

Despite the deadlock between the clubs, Alvarez has received a strong backing from inside the Barcelona dressing room. Midfielder Fermín López spoke highly of the forward's profile and suggested he would seamlessly adapt to the team's tactical style.

Speaking in an interview with Diari ARA, Fermín shared his thoughts on the potential arrival of the Argentine forward:

“I like him, he’s a great player, but ultimately he’s an Atlético Madrid player, so I can’t say much more about him. I can only say that, in our squad and the way we play, I think he would fit in very well.”

With time running out before the transfer deadline, the coming days will prove decisive in whether Barcelona can persuade Atlético Madrid to sanction a blockbuster deal or if the Catalan giants must pivot to other options.