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Barcelona use Messi to sign big-money Lewandowski replacement
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 1 Oct 2025 05:56 CDT
- 3 min read
News
Barcelona are ready to use the leverage of Lionel Messi to help them complete a remarkable transfer for Robert Lewandowski’s replacement.
Barca are looking at the era beyond the Poland star and have started a move that could allow them to snap up Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez is very much the man of the moment. The Argentine grabbed a hat-trick in the win over Rayo Vallecano last week before bagging a double against Real Madrid in the club’s stunning 5-2 derby win. His hot form continued with a goal and two assists against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
STATS
Julián Alvarez
F (C)
Atlético Madrid
Julián Alvarez
F (C)
Atlético Madrid
Now he could be on his way to Barcelona as Lewandowski’s replacement, with Barcelona president Joan Laporta a strong admirer of him since his Manchester City days.
Sport reports that the Camp Nou side are ready to make a “major transfer” in order to compete with Europe’s leading sides. As such, they have made Alvarez their top summer transfer target.
Julian Alvarez to follow Messi?
Messi’s influence is expected to be critical in order to sign Alvarez, who is under contract with Atleti until 2030 and has a release fee worth £435m (€500m) in his contract.
The Argentine is a massive fan of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is Barcelona's all-time leading scorer, assister and appearance maker. Alvarez's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, revealed this in the podcast ‘Solo Para Culers’.
“He has admiration for Spanish clubs and, having followed Leo's career since he was a child, I don't think there are many Argentines who don't have a feeling for Barca,” he explained.
Crucially, Hidalgo did not rule out the possibility of a 2026 move for the former Manchester City star.
“It's day-to-day at Atletico. We'll see how the negotiations go. Football is ever-changing,” he admitted.
Barcelona believe Atleti will not sell below £174m (€200m), which is naturally a figure that would be very difficult to match, yet it is hoped the Messi factor will prompt Alvarez to push for a deal from his end, potentially turning the situation in the Catalans’ favour.
What has Alvarez said?
Publicly, Alvarez is keeping his cards close to his chest.
Speaking after Atletico Madrid’s win over Frankfurt, he said: “I’m very calm. The season has just started. What’s said on social media is beyond my control.”
Man City’s Erling Haaland is also on the club’s radar, with the Norway star rumoured in the Spanish media to be ‘disgruntled’ in England.
In any case, Laporta is ready to make a blockbuster signing next summer to reinvigorate Barcelona.
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