Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona remain firmly interested in Julian Alvarez: ‘Would like our offer to be accepted’

Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona remain firmly interested in Julian Alvarez: ‘Would like our offer to be accepted’

It does increasingly feel like the saga involving Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Julian Alvarez simply does not have an end date.

The Catalan club have simply not taken no for an answer all summer, pushing on Los Colchoneros’ door to try to sign the Argentine striker.

Atletico, on their part, have been stubborn in their stance that they would not sell the 26-year-old to Barça at any cost.

Now, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly confirmed that the club remain very interested in signing the Madrid striker.

Laporta confirms Barcelona’s interest

Speaking about the Argentine’s future, Laporta made Barcelona’s position clear while also stressing that the Catalans intend to handle negotiations respectfully.

“We are still very interested in Julian Alvarez,” the Barcelona president said.

“We would like our offer to be accepted, and we are doing so with the utmost respect for Atletico de Madrid,” he revealed.

Laporta’s comments are particularly significant because they remove any uncertainty about whether Barcelona’s pursuit remains active as the summer transfer window approaches its conclusion.

There have been suggestions that the Catalan club may start looking at alternatives, but that certainly does not seem to be the case.

Barça are still pushing for their priority

The wording is also notable. Laporta did not merely acknowledge that Barcelona admire Alvarez.

By referring to “the offer” that Barça had submitted, the president is effectively forcing Atletico’s hand to try to get them to the negotiating table.

Atletico’s position remains the major obstacle, and Laporta was understandably careful not to turn the pursuit into a public confrontation between the two clubs.

At a time when Barça are still hoping for a favour from the Madrid-based club, there is little sense in burning whatever remaining bridges are left.

For Barcelona, Alvarez represents much more than simply adding another high-profile attacker.

The Argentine has the movement, intensity and versatility to offer solutions both as a central striker and when drifting into other attacking positions.

That profile would make him particularly attractive for Hansi Flick, while, at 26, he is also at an age where Barcelona could realistically view him as an important attacking signing for several seasons.

Barcelona continue to wait

Laporta has confirmed Barcelona’s interest in Julian Alvarez. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

There is not much that Laporta and Barça can realistically do apart from continuing to wait.

Barcelona can want Alvarez, and the player can be an excellent sporting fit, but Atletico still have full control over his contractual situation.

The Catalan club must therefore try to identify a financial formula that would tempt Atletico to sell Alvarez to one of their direct league rivals.

Still, Laporta going public at this stage is noteworthy.

Rather than distancing himself from a public transfer saga, he has put all the attention on it in the final days of the transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether Atletico have a remarkable change of heart but, unless that happens, it almost looks certain that Alvarez will continue at the Metropolitano for the foreseeable future.