Lamine Yamal says he ‘hopes’ to see Julian Alvarez complete a summer transfer move to Barcelona as the forward is a ‘top player’ and would be a ‘great fit’ at the Camp Nou.
Alvarez’s future has been the subject of intense speculation on the back of a stellar 2025/26 campaign with Atletico Madrid, in which he scored 20 goals in 49 appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Barcelona and Champions League holders PSG are understood to be expressing a strong interest Alvarez, while Premier League champions Arsenal have also been heavily linked with the Argentina international.
Recent reports emanating out of Spain claimed the Gunners had even made contact with Atleti over a potential swap transfer involving Alvarez and Viktor Gyokeres.
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Barca are understood to be in pole position to secure a deal but saw an opening offer of €100 million (£86.4m) knocked back by La Liga rivals Atleti.
It remains to be seen if the Catalan giants will return with a follow-up bid for the sought-after 26-year-old attacker, who left Manchester City to join Atleti for a fee of £82m only two years ago.
Just a fortnight ago, Alvarez himself fuelled rumours that he could have played his final match for Atleti, making no secret of his desire to leave the Metropolitano Stadium in order to fulfil a ‘dream’ elsewhere.
Asked if he had any updates on his future following Argentina’s World Cup victory over Jordan, Alvarez told ESPN: ‘Honestly, I don’t know.
‘I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about this, but I can’t hide or pretend otherwise either.
‘I try to be an honest person. I spoke with the people at the club I needed to speak with.
‘The best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfil my dream.’
While Alvarez’s club future remains uncertain, one thing is for sure – he has plenty of admirers in Catalonia, and Barcelona are not likely to give up on signing him anytime soon.
Asked for his thoughts on joining forces with Alvarez, Barca superstar Yamal told Mundo Deportivo: ‘Everyone knows he’s a top player, the kind everyone wants to play alongside.
‘I’ve already said it: we’re open to welcoming him, and if he comes, we’ll all be very happy.
‘I think he’s a great fit for Barca’s style. I have no idea what the situation is, but I hope so.’
Alvarez will be all too aware that the eye-watering €500million (£431m) release clause in his contract with Atleti puts the La Liga outfit in an extraordinarily strong position this summer.
And while many of the most powerful clubs in Europe continue to circle for the striker, it appears Atleti bosses are relaxed about the situation.
Reacting to Alvarez’s recent comments about wanting to leave, Atleti president Enrique Cerezo told Spanish radio station RNE: ‘They caught us by surprise and we have done what we had to do.
‘We’ve said that he is an Atletico de Madrid player and that we have no offers from anyone.
‘Even if there were offers, we do not want to sell him.’
Alvarez has racked up a total of 49 goals and 17 assists in 106 appearances for Atleti since joining the club in an £81.5m move from Manchester City back in 2024.
The Argentinian’s current contract in Madrid runs through to June 2030.
Pressed on the speculation surrounding Alvarez’s future towards the end of last season, Diego Simeone said it was only ‘normal’ that a player of such quality was being pursued by the world’s best.
‘I’m not in Julian’s head,’ Simeone told reporters before Atleti’s Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal.
‘I understand that it’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona.
‘It’s normal because he’s so good.’
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