Barcelona are exploring contingency plans in the transfer market as their pursuit of Julian Alvarez faces significant hurdles. While the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has expressed a clear desire to join Hansi Flick’s squad, Atletico Madrid remain reluctant to strengthen a direct La Liga rival. Despite Atletico CEO Gil Marin’s insistence that the striker is not for sale, Barcelona have not officially abandoned the chase. However, reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate that the club is unwilling to wait indefinitely, with a decision expected within the next two to three days as the start of their league campaign approaches.
In light of these complications, Barcelona have reportedly reached out to Villarreal to inquire about forward Georges Mikautadze. Sources from Insta Foot suggest that a potential deal for the marksman could reach €70 million. Additionally, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez has been identified as another candidate to bolster the attack following the departure of Robert Lewandowski at the end of last season. The club is under pressure to finalize their attacking options before their La Liga title defense begins with an away fixture against Elche on August 22.
The team’s pre-season preparations have been varied as they look to build on a successful 2025-26 campaign, during which they defended both their La Liga and Supercopa de Espana titles, finishing ahead of Real Madrid. Their summer schedule included a 4-1 win over CE Europa, a penalty shootout loss to Birmingham City following a 2-2 draw, and narrow 1-0 results against Nottingham Forest and Udinese in shortened 45-minute friendlies. Most recently, they secured a 5-2 victory over FC Basel.
Hansi Flick’s side is set to conclude their pre-season schedule with a match against Al-Ahly on August 19. While the Champions League title remained out of reach last season, the club enters the new term with momentum, having successfully defeated their arch-rivals in the Supercopa de Espana final earlier this year. The focus now shifts to securing a final piece for the forward line to ensure they remain competitive across all fronts. The report also notes that who haven’t yet given up on their pursuit of Alvarez, although the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has expressed a wish to play for Hansi Flick’s side. The report also notes that who could cost €70 million, in case they cannot land Alvarez, insta Foot has reported that the Blaugrana have made contact with Villarreal for their marksman Georges Mikautadze.
Comments