Barcelona Shift Gears After Alvarez Rejection

After spending the better part of the summer pursuing Atlético Madrid's Julián Alvarez, FC Barcelona have been forced to confront a stubborn reality: the Rojiblancos simply will not sell. Atlético president Enrique Cerezo reiterated that stance in no uncertain terms this week, closing the door on any potential deal for the Argentine forward.

"Barcelona were told from the first moment that we wanted to continue with Julián and that is what has happened," Cerezo said. "He is a player of ours and a very important part of the team. We want him to be with us."

Cerezo remained adamant that Alvarez will stay and thrive in the Spanish capital, adding: "I don't know if Julián will ask for forgiveness but he will win over the fans in two games. He's a great player. He is an excellent person. I am convinced that Julián is going to have a magnificent season with us. At Atlético what we want is to win the league and we are going to fight for it."

Barcelona had identified Alvarez — who was brought in to replace the outbound Robert Lewandowski — as their chief target this summer. The Camp Nou hierarchy made repeated overtures to Atlético, but those in power at the Metropolitano have consistently made clear that their star goalscorer is not available for transfer.

Lautaro Martínez Becomes Priority Number One

With time ticking down on the transfer window, Barcelona have pivoted decisively. According to Blaugrana insider Gerard Romero, speaking during a live stream for Jijantes on Wednesday, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martínez has been installed as the club's primary target to fill the number nine role in Hansi Flick's squad.

"Barça have set Lautaro as their main target for the 9," Romero revealed. "After Deco's meeting with his agent in Madrid a few days ago, following the no from Atlético, he is now placed at the top."

The club is said to have met with the player's agents, and there is reportedly interest from both parties. Per Jijantes, the striker has "opened the door" to making the move to Camp Nou. However, at this stage no formal deal or transfer bid has emerged.

A Difficult Deal to Pull Off

Martínez, who serves as Alvarez's backup for Argentina, has spent roughly eight years at Internazionale and currently captains the Italian giants. He signed a contract extension two years ago that ties him to the Nerazzurri until 2029. While the 28-year-old has reportedly flirted with joining Barcelona in the past, he has since stated a desire to retire at Inter — complicating any potential move.

The bigger roadblock, however, may be Inter themselves. With the transfer window closing imminently, the Italian champions will be reluctant to part with their captain and talismanic forward. Barcelona may have cash available to push a deal through, but observers say Inter could demand a huge fee — or reject the Catalans' advances altogether.

As the final days of the window tick away, Barcelona's sporting director Deco and his team face a race against time to secure the striker Hansi Flick needs. Whether Lautaro Martínez proves any more attainable than Julián Alvarez remains to be seen.