Laporta confirms Barcelona remain interested in Julián Álvarez and keep 100m offer on the table

Barcelona have not given up on signing Julián Álvarez this summer. Club president Joan Laporta confirmed on Wednesday that the offer made to Atlético Madrid for the Argentine forward is still on the table and that the Catalan club are ready to push the deal through if Atlético agree to negotiate a transfer.

Laporta addressed the financial details directly: Barcelona will not pay the 500 million euro release clause included in Julián Álvarez's contract. Instead, the club are keeping in place a formal offer of 100 million euros that was presented to Atlético Madrid and remains valid.

• Laporta confirmed Barcelona are keeping their 100 million euro bid for Julián Álvarez.
• The club president ruled out paying the forward's 500 million release clause.
• Atlético told Barça they had no intention to sell, but the Catalan club remain alert.
• According to Laporta, the player wants to join Barça and Atlético are talking to other clubs.
• Julián Álvarez is Barcelona's only option to strengthen their attack this summer.

Barcelona's bid for Julián Álvarez still stands

The Barcelona president walked through the negotiation process with Atlético Madrid. He explained that the first approach was a formal club-to-club offer, which Laporta himself confirmed in a phone call with Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil. The response from the Madrid club was that they had no plans to sell the player because they did not have an alternative in their squad.

Despite that initial rejection, Barcelona have not pulled their proposal. Laporta said he and sporting director Deco decided to put the matter on hold after concluding that Atlético did not want to sell. However, the situation changed when reports emerged linking the Madrid side with talks with other clubs, including Arsenal, over the Argentine international.

We remain very interested in Julián Álvarez. We would like them to accept our offer, and we are doing this with the utmost respect for Atlético Madrid.

Laporta rules out paying the forward's 500 million clause

The Barcelona president made clear the financial limits of the operation. Barcelona will not take on the cost of Julián Álvarez's release clause, which stands at 500 million euros. The club's stance is firm: the only way to complete the signing is through an agreement between clubs in the region of the 100 million euros already offered.

Laporta stressed that Barcelona intend to maintain a respectful relationship with Atlético Madrid. In his remarks he also mentioned a conversation with Atlético president Enrique Cerezo, and defended that Barcelona have handled the process correctly. According to the Barça chief, the noise surrounding the operation has not been generated by Barcelona.

Barça see Julián Álvarez as their only attacking target

Barcelona have decided that Julián Álvarez is the only option to strengthen their forward line in this transfer window. There is no plan B. The Catalan club will not go into the market for another striker if the move for the Argentine does not happen, making the Atlético man an absolute priority for Deco and Laporta.

The Catalan president sounded pleased and hopeful about the outcome. He repeated that the player apparently wants to join Barcelona and that this is one of the main reasons the club have kept their bid alive. The forward's situation at Atlético is delicate and uncertainty around his future has grown in recent days.

What needs to happen for Julián Álvarez to sign for Barcelona

Barcelona's position is clear: the bid remains active and will stay on the table unless Atlético Madrid close the door for good. For the transfer to go through, the Madrid club would have to accept a fee close to the 100 million euros already offered and agree to part with the Argentine forward.

Laporta explained that Barça's interest remains firm because the club understands Atlético are exploring the market for a replacement. If those moves result in a sale to another club, Barcelona would be ready to formalize their bid and try to convince the Madrid side to accept it.

The Barcelona president closed his remarks with a clear message: Barça are keeping their proposal alive and hope the two clubs can reach an understanding. The ball is now in Atlético Madrid's court.