Barcelona are still holding on to the belief that Julian Alvarez can be signed, although these hopes could now be up in smoke. Earlier this week, the Argentine striker was absent from Atletico Madrid training for three consecutive days, which some had seen as the start of a potential boycott to force through a move to the Spotify Camp Nou.
Alvarez has made it clear that he will only entertain a move to Barcelona if he were to leave Atleti this summer, but Los Colchoneros will not sell to a direct rival. Thus, the player himself would need to put serious pressure on his club in order to have any chance of joining Hansi Flick’s squad, which is why his training absences were such an interest.
However, Alvarez’s absence from Atleti training has now come to an end. As per Diario AS, he was back alongside his teammates on Sunday, thus confirming that he did not go on strike to force through a move to Barcelona.
Barcelona must now give up Alvarez pursuit
Earlier in the week, Atleti released a statement confirming that offers from Barcelona would not be considered, but the training absence situation had kept the saga alive. But now that Alvarez is back alongside his teammates, it should spell an end to any hopes they still had that a deal could be done this summer.
With Alvarez now surely out of reach, it will be interesting to see how Barcelona’s business for the remainder of the transfer window plays out. They are unlikely to pursue an alternative striker target, but there will now be money freed up to go for different options to strengthen Flick’s squad, such as a central defender. Those decisions are still to be made by sporting director Deco, who will be advised by the German head coach.