Not just Alvarez: Second World Cup star admits he dreams of Barcelona transfer

Updated: 23 Jun 2026 16:54 BST | 6 min read

Julian Alvarez, Hansi Flick, Barcelona — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

AS Roma and Morocco star Neil El Aynaoui dreams of playing for Barcelona, it has emerged.

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The Blaugrana are inadvertently dominating the World Cup headlines right now after Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez did exactly what the Catalan press had been reporting on Monday.

After Argentina defeated Austria to book their place in the World Cup knockout stage, Alvarez faced the press and bluntly admitted that he wants to leave Atletico Madrid because he wants to "fulfil his dream."

Current ETV

Julián Álvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

Julián Álvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

ETV Range

€101.7M - €124.3M

Said dream, of course, is to play for Barcelona. His desire to join the LaLiga champions is well documented, but a deal is believed to be incredibly difficult. An opening €100 million bid has been rejected by Atleti, who are pointing to Alvarez's €500m release clause.

The relationship between the two clubs is at an all-time low, with Atleti insisting that there is absolutely no way they will sell Alvarez to Barcelona unless his exit clause is triggered. This won't happen, obviously.

El Aynaoui also wants Barca

However, Alvarez isn't the only high-profile World Cup star who dreams of pulling on the famous Blaugrana kit one day. It has emerged that Morocco midfielder Neil El Aynaoui is also a boyhood Barcelona fan.

The 24-year-old joined AS Roma from Lens for a sizeable €23.5 million last year and has been one of Morocco's standout performers at this summer's finals, alongside 18-year-old sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi.

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A post shared by Neil El Aynaoui (@neilelaynaoui)

After joining Roma, El Aynaoui openly admitted his love for the LaLiga champions. "As a child, I lived in Barcelona and was a Barcelona fan," he said. "I've always admired [Andres] Iniesta."

This has also been backed up by his father, former tennis star Younes El Aynaoui, who said of his son: "My son is a Barca fan. He lived in Barcelona from his birth to age 11 and would be the happiest man in the world if he ever plays there."

However, El Aynaoui's chances of realising his dream look slim, at least right now. Barcelona are well-stocked in midfield and, if anything, are looking to sell at least one midfielder, likely Marc Casado, this summer rather than sign one.

Perhaps a window of opportunity could open for the 24-year-old in the future, though. And who knows, maybe he will even play alongside Julian Alvarez.

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