Alvarez or nothing: Barcelona rule out stopgap striker signing

Barcelona have effectively made Julián Álvarez their one and only striker target this summer — and if a deal for the Argentine cannot be found before the window closes, the Catalans appear ready to go into the new season with the attacking options already at their disposal.

According to a report from transfer journalist Nil Solà, the club’s stance on centre-forward reinforcements has hardened considerably. “If Barça don’t sign Julián Álvarez, they won’t bring in any center forward,” Solà said. “The club has considered various options, but as of today, they believe that nothing that can be signed improves the squad.”

The Athletic echo that assessment, adding that there is a strong chance Barcelona will sign no new striker at all if they cannot land Álvarez, largely because “there is hardly any plan available that convinces a lot of people on the sporting side and leaves the squad clearly better.” Beyond that, Diario Sport report that the Blaugrana — won’t pay an extraordinary amount for a centre-forward without guarantees” and have “decided they won’t sign a centre-forward this summer” unless the right profile becomes available.

Deadline extended, but patience has its limits

Despite the bleak outlook, the club has not given up hope entirely. Reports from The Athletic indicate that Hansi Flick and Deco are both willing to “wait until the end of the summer window for Álvarez” and will pounce at any opportunity to join up with the Argentine World Cup winner. A similar version of events, from La Vanguardia, claims that Barcelona will extend the deadline they had set for themselves to sign Álvarez, aware that Atlético have a problem on their hands after the striker was whistled by supporters.

That patience could even stretch beyond the summer. Barcelona may revive their pursuit of Álvarez again in January if he does not move this window.

Why are Atletico refusing to budge?

Atletico Madrid’s stance, meanwhile, has been resolute. Diario AS say there are four reasons behind Los Colchoneros’ dramatic refusal to negotiate directly with their La Liga rivals. The first is that Atletico believe they simply cannot find a replacement of the same level — the Argentina forward sits behind only Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland among the world’s most valuable No. 9s, according to Transfermarkt.

Beyond that, the Madrid side are said to be riled because they believe Barcelona and Álvarez went behind their back during negotiations, having already filed a complaint to UEFA and alleging their striker was “pressured and harassed” throughout the 2025-26 season. A third factor is competition: Atletico have title and Champions League ambitions and know that strengthening Barcelona would directly damage their own hopes. Finally, they are still “angry” about a Barca offer, an acoustic that paid €100 million over several years and which the club believes was part of “a strategy orchestrated between the club and Julián’s agents.”

Do they already have a solution at number nine?

If Barcelona do indeed head into the season without a new striker, there is growing confidence within the club that it may not even matter. Their 5-0 dismantling of Elche was a strong piece of evidence.

With Robert Lewandowski having departed and Ferran Torres also leaving, Raphinha was given the central role and didn’t miss a beat — winning a penalty with a sharp turn inside the box and then converting the spot-kick to open the scoring. He also set up Karim Adeyemi for the second before the break, with both goals coming from trips in behind the defense.

In the second half, Fermín López dropped into the striker position, and the flow of chances continued. Anthony Gordon set up Raphinha for the third, assisted a fourth, and Fermín rounded off the scoring with a strong, skillful finish. “Both Raphinha and Fermín and a great job from the striker,” one analysis said, and with the likes of Anthony Gordon, Dani Olmo and youngster Hamza Abdelkarim also in reserve, Barcelona’s attacking depth has rarely looked more convincing.

Whether all that is enough to justify going into a season — and a Champions League campaign — without a recognised natural centre-forward is a gamble. But on current evidence, Barcelona look ready to take it.