Barcelona’s €20 million miss resurfaces as Alvarez returns to market

Barcelona once had the chance to sign Julian Alvarez for €20 million in 2022, when the Argentine striker was still at River Plate. The Catalan club received the offer during Joan Laporta’s presidency but ultimately passed, a decision that now echoes as the player commands a far higher price.

Alvarez’s representatives believed Barcelona would be the ideal destination, citing the club’s history and the player’s dream of playing alongside Lionel Messi. Although that dream could not be realised, the offer was still made to the sporting department under Laporta.

Instead, Barcelona turned to Ferran Torres, investing €55 million to acquire him from Manchester City. The club also secured Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang on loan from Arsenal, while manager Xavi Hernández relied on existing forwards Ousmane Dembélé and Memphis Depay.

Manchester City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano received the same proposal and acted swiftly, signing Alvarez for the English side. After a brief loan spell back at River Plate, Alvarez officially joined Pep Guardiola’s squad in July 2022.

At City, Erling Haaland was entrenched as the first‑choice striker, limiting Alvarez’s starting opportunities. After two seasons of limited game time, the Argentine decided to seek a new challenge.

Alvarez moved to Atletico Madrid, where he was coached by Diego Simeone. Two seasons under Simeone proved difficult, and the striker now wishes to leave the club.

Barcelona have re‑emerged as the priority suitor, targeting Alvarez as the successor to Robert Lewandowski. Inside the club, Hansi Flick and his sporting department view the 26‑year‑old as a perfect tactical fit alongside Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon and Pedri.

The fee Barcelona would now have to meet is described as many times the €20 million they declined in 2022, underscoring how market values have shifted. The increased cost reflects the striker’s evolution into one of Europe’s elite forwards.