Julian Alvarez: Barcelona stars ‘unconvinced’ by €150m move for Atletico forward

Barcelona’s dressing room is split over a blockbuster summer move for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, with several senior players and key figures in the club’s sporting department opposing a €150m deal backed by president Joan Laporta, according to a Catalan media report.

The Argentina international – nicknamed “the Spider” – has publicly declared his desire to leave Atletico and join his boyhood club Barcelona in this transfer window. But Atletico are refusing to sanction a sale, particularly to a direct La Liga rival, and some influential voices inside Barca are now said to be cooling on the idea too.

Atletico stand firm despite player’s wish

Alvarez faced a number of his Atletico Madrid team-mates in Sunday night’s 2026 World Cup final, and also went up against players who could become his future Barcelona colleagues if a deal is eventually struck.

For now, that scenario remains highly uncertain. Atletico Madrid have repeatedly insisted that the 24-year-old is not for sale, and have been especially clear they will not strengthen Barcelona.

On 17 July, chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin restated Atletico’s position in emphatic terms, underlining that the club has no intention of letting its striker depart.

Report: Barcelona squad divided over Alvarez

While Laporta continues to push the move, a report in Catalan outlet El Nacional on Wednesday claimed that “many” Barcelona players are not enthusiastic about the proposed signing.

This contrasts sharply with information published by Spanish newspaper Sport at the end of June, which said Barcelona’s squad had been “pleasantly surprised” by Alvarez’s media appearances and viewed him as a valuable addition to the team.

El Nacional, however, says there is no consensus in the dressing room and highlights four players in particular who are understood to be against the transfer.

Ferran Torres ‘hurt’, considers PSG option

Foremost among them is Ferran Torres, who, according to the report, believes he is fully capable of being a regular starter for Barcelona and fears being pushed further down the pecking order by Alvarez.

The Spain international is said to feel his pride has been wounded by the club’s pursuit of another high-profile attacker and is seriously weighing up a move to Paris St-Germain this summer.

Midfielders Gavi and Pedri are also reported to be unenthusiastic about the transfer. The pair are close to Ferran Torres and enjoy a strong relationship with him, and El Nacional says they would not look kindly on a deal that could marginalise their team-mate.

Raphinha and sporting bosses question fee

Brazil winger Raphinha is another sceptic, the report adds. After the club’s recent acquisitions of England international Anthony Gordon and Germany forward Karim Adeyemi, Raphinha is said to feel Barca have already significantly reinforced their attack.

He reportedly cannot see the logic in committing €150m to yet another forward in Alvarez, particularly given the club’s ongoing financial constraints.

That concern is shared by some in the club’s sporting hierarchy. Sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick both believe the price quoted for Alvarez is excessive, according to El Nacional, and would prefer to invest in a less expensive option rather than commit such a large portion of the budget to one player.

Laporta makes Alvarez top priority

Despite the internal doubts, Laporta is described as a firm supporter of the move and has made Julian Alvarez his top transfer priority for the current window.

The president is convinced that the Argentina star could transform Barcelona’s attack and sees him as a flagship signing to spearhead the club’s latest project.

Whether that vision can overcome Atletico’s resistance – and the misgivings of both the dressing room and parts of the sporting department – remains unclear, leaving one of the summer’s most talked-about potential deals finely poised.