Barcelona's January Plans for Julian Alvarez
Barcelona refuse to let Julian Alvarez go. Not in their plans, anyway.
The Catalan club saw their summer push for the Argentine blocked by Atletico Madrid, who simply would not sit down at the table. Alvarez stayed at the Metropolitano, the window closed, and on the surface the story ended there.
Barcelona plan a January return
According to SPORT, Barça are already lining up a second attempt when the January market opens. The club accepted Atletico’s hardline stance in the summer rather than trying to force a move, but their assessment of Alvarez has not shifted an inch.
They still see him as a key target. They still see January as another opening.
What makes their position more intriguing is how they separate Alvarez from Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian arrived to plug an immediate gap in attack, a short-term solution to a clear problem. Internally, though, Alvarez sits in a different category: a long-term opportunity they do not want to abandon.
That distinction matters. It means Jesus’ signing does not automatically close the door on another major outlay in the forward line.
SPORT report that Barcelona could have around €65–€70 million of financial fair play space available in January. That figure gives them room to manoeuvre, whether on Alvarez or elsewhere. The money could just as easily be directed towards a centre-back if Hansi Flick decides his defence needs shoring up.
Right now, that is secondary. Alvarez remains the priority target.
A tense few months for Alvarez at Atletico
The picture looks far messier from Alvarez’s side.
He chose to stay at Atletico in the summer, but the fallout has already damaged his bond with parts of the fanbase. His next appearance at the Metropolitano is unlikely to be comfortable; the atmosphere could turn hostile quickly.
Reports have even suggested Atletico might ask him to issue a public apology to supporters and change his agent after what unfolded in the last window. At this stage, neither demand seems close to becoming reality, yet the fact such ideas are circulating underlines how delicate the situation has become.
Alvarez now stares at a crucial four-month stretch. His form on the pitch, his relationship with Diego Simeone and the reaction he draws from the stands will all shape what happens next.
By January, Barcelona may be back at the door. The question is whether Alvarez walks through it, or walks back into a Metropolitano that has truly forgiven him.
