Barcelona's Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araujo have publicly praised Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, fueling speculation about a potential transfer to the club. Reports suggest Alvarez may join Barcelona after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the team plans for life beyond Robert Lewandowski. Atletico's president remains confident in retaining the Argentine forward, who is contracted until 2030.
Barcelona's interest in Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez has gained momentum through endorsements from the club's own players. Central defender Pau Cubarsí described Alvarez as "one of the best strikers in the world" and "Barça level," noting his challenging presence in matches. Cubarsí highlighted Alvarez's quality while acknowledging the contributions of current forwards Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. This praise follows a similar sentiment from teammate Ronald Araujo, who called Alvarez "a great player" and "one of the best strikers in the world." Araujo added, "The best have to be at the best club, which is us," though he deferred decisions to club management.
The speculation intensified after Alvarez's performance in Atletico's 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg victory over Barcelona last week, where he scored once and provided an assist. Alvarez has scored seven goals in 24 La Liga appearances this season, a dip from his 29 goals in 57 games last term. He joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024 for up to €95 million and is contracted until 2030.
Argentine journalist Hugo Balassone reported on Radio La Red that Alvarez has decided to leave Atletico at the end of the current season, with Barcelona as his preferred destination post-2026 FIFA World Cup. Balassone stated, "My information is that Julián Alvarez is going to play for Barcelona... after the World Cup he’s going to play for one of the best teams in the world." He emphasized Alvarez's desire for a title-contending team.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo dismissed the rumors, saying Alvarez is happy in Madrid and that such speculation harms all parties. Barcelona's pursuit may hinge on their March 15 presidential election and financial constraints, potentially requiring sales like that of Araujo to fund the move. Meanwhile, Cubarsí expressed optimism about overturning the Copa deficit, affirming belief in comebacks with fan support.
