Atlético de Madrid will soon close the signing of Julián Álvarez, an important blow on the table for the 'colchoneros' in the summer market. Hours after making Dani Olmo's arrival at FC Barcelona official, the 'colchoneros' improved their offer for Manchester City's '9', who will land at the Metropolitano in exchange for 75 million euros net plus another 15 extra 'kilos' in variables.
Although the transfer of the player from Terrassa generates excitement for Barcelona fans, with the playmaker being one of the figures of La Roja in the Euro Cup, doubts about the possibility of incorporating Nico Williams this summer open the debate on the reasons that led Barça to discard, even enter the bidding for Julián. Adding what the Barça board will pay for Olmo, plus the hypothetical cost of the Athletic winger, the accounts were enough to negotiate with the 'sky blue' team.
Barça would have been given the accounts to sign Julián Álvarez
In principle, RB Leipzig will let Dani go in exchange for 55 fixed 'kilos' plus another 7M in variables. With Nico, the Bilbao team always made clear its desire to refer to the value of his clause (58 million fixed euros) to close his transfer, an amount that Barça is willing to pay if the man from Pamplona finally decides to leave. Both operations add up to 103 kilos that Barça must pay this summer, an amount with which Álvarez would have landed in Catalonia.
At the moment, the club is still struggling to balance its salary margin, which is why the board never considered a purchase of that size. The Argentine's salary would be added to the cost of the transfer, who last season made around 6 kilos net with City. In principle, the South American forward should improve his emoluments at Atlético, although it is likely that his net salary will be around €10-12M, an amount similar to what Barça offers the youngest Williams to leave San Mamés.
In any case, the Barça board ruled out going for another '9' for months. The arrival of Hansi Flick ruled out doubts about the continuity of Robert Lewandowski, in addition to opening the door for Vitor Roque who also did not have much hope of continuing with Xavi Hernández on the bench. With the emergence of Pau Víctor, there is confidence in the club about the offensive power of the squad, as long as another winger scores a goal.
Julián Álvarez, a 'top 9' who aims to shine in LaLiga
The one from Calchín, currently valued at €90M on Transfermarkt, is a new 'top' signing for LaLiga after the arrival of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid. After two seasons at City in which he scored 36 goals and 18 assists in 103 official matches, the Argentine international, who at 24 years old has already won practically everything at club level and with his national team, arrives in Spain with the star label looking for undisputed ownership that Pep Guardiola could never guarantee due to the presence of Erling Haaland.
Due to characteristics, Álvarez had everything necessary to fit without problems into the Barça scheme, since he is a center forward who can play without problems as a winger on both sides or as a playmaker, in accordance with his coach's requirements. The versatility of the South American attacker would have been of great help for a Barça that, if it finally loses the option of signing Nico Williams, will once again depend too much on the goals of a Lewandowski who will turn 36 this month. Flick fully trusts the Pole, but the culé market plan, betting everything on Pamplona, today generates more doubts than ever, although there are three weeks left in the market where anything can happen.