COBE Radio: Barcelona Has No Plan B for Attack, Álvarez Remains Absolute Priority

As reported by COBE Radio's Víctor Navarro on August 8, Barcelona's chase for Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez remains unchanged. Despite the club's全力 efforts to sign Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri, this move does not alter their approach to the Argentine forward. Álvarez is still Barcelona's absolute priority for reinforcing the attack, and the club has no so-called "Plan B" in the forward line.

Two Tracks in Parallel: Rodri Deal Does Not Affect Álvarez Plans

Barcelona's management believes the club is fully capable of completing both the Rodri and Álvarez deals simultaneously. Signing Rodri is intended to address Frenkie de Jong's knee injury suffered during the World Cup, filling the gap in midfield, while bringing in Álvarez is meant to fill the void left by Robert Lewandowski's departure as the core forward. These two operations are independent parallel moves in Barcelona's transfer strategy, with no interference between them.

Álvarez Is the Sole Target for the Attack, Barcelona's Stance Is Firm

Despite the availability of other forward options on the transfer market, Barcelona's sports management and head coach Hansi Flick have always regarded Álvarez as the only key target. The club has made it clear internally that unless the Álvarez deal completely falls through and an existing forward (such as Ferran Torres) leaves, they will not consider any alternatives. This firm stance stems from Álvarez's strong desire to join and his top-level quality and versatility as a World Cup winner.

Atlético's Tough Stance, Transfer Stalemate Continues

Currently, the only obstacle to this deal is Atlético Madrid's hardline attitude. Atlético has not only publicly rejected Barcelona's previous €100 million offer but has also filed complaints with the Spanish Football Federation and FIFA, accusing Barcelona of improper contact. Although Álvarez himself has repeatedly expressed his desire to leave Atlético and plans to apply further pressure when he returns to training on August 10, the Madrid club has yet to budge.

For Barcelona, despite the significant difficulty of the deal, the club remains patient, waiting for the situation to evolve. After Lewandowski's departure, Barcelona urgently needs a top-class striker to anchor their attacking system for the new season, and Álvarez is undoubtedly their ideal candidate, also recommended by Flick. How this transfer saga will ultimately end depends on whether Atlético will make concessions under the immense pressure from the player.

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