Julián Álvarez remained at Atlético Madrid when the summer transfer window slammed shut, but Barcelona could reportedly return for the Argentine forward in the winter market. Atlético Madrid are still refusing to negotiate.
- Barcelona could reportedly renew their pursuit of Julián Álvarez in the winter window.
- Álvarez remained at Atlético Madrid after the summer deadline passed.
- Atlético Madrid have maintained their refusal to negotiate a transfer to Barcelona.
Julián Álvarez’s current situation at Atlético Madrid
Any winter move would still depend on Barcelona making an approach and Atlético changing their stance.
Atlético signed Álvarez from Manchester City for an initial €75 million in 2024, and his recent La Liga output shows exactly why Barcelona’s interest could persist. He scored 17 league goals in 2024 and added eight more in 2025, which helps explain Barcelona’s interest, even if no winter step has officially been set in motion.
Atlético Madrid’s refusal and the summer precedent
Atlético Madrid’s board unanimously backed the club’s decision not to negotiate an Álvarez transfer to Barcelona, and and that firm stance remains the biggest barrier to any winter approach. Barcelona’s summer push never developed into a negotiation; instead, it was met with an outright refusal.
Atlético previously stated that Barcelona had not met their standards for professional, ethical, and respectful negotiations, declaring there would be zero consideration of an Álvarez transfer. The capital club also lodged complaints with FIFA and the RFEF over alleged tapping-up during the saga, which only makes any future contact between the two clubs more complicated.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta later claimed that the Catalan club’s offer, worth more than €100 million, would remain on the table if Atlético changed their minds.
Barcelona’s winter plans and Álvarez’s future
Barcelona’s attacking plans may have been shaped in part by Ferran Torres joining Paris Saint-Germain in a €50 million deal, which helps explain why Álvarez could remain high on the club’s shortlist. However, Barcelona have still not made a confirmed January move.
Álvarez’s long-term Atlético contract, which runs until 2030 and includes a staggering €500 million release clause, underlines just how difficult any transfer would be. Whistles and boos from some Atlético supporters during the recent transfer saga add background pressure, but they do not prove that an exit is imminent.
Barcelona’s interest could stay alive into the winter, yet no established route to a deal exists.
