Barcelona respond as bust-up sparks €80m Julian Alvarez twist

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Tom Weber | Writer

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

Barcelona's struggles in their ongoing pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez have led to surprising links with Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez.

The Blaugrana view Alvarez as their top striker target this summer, but they have so far failed to soften up their LaLiga rivals. Atletico Madrid insist that the Argentina international is going nowhere - and especially not to another Spanish team.

The capital club feel that they have been disrespected by Barcelona and are blocking any and all attempts to negotiate a deal. The only way for the reigning champions to sign Alvarez, Atleti insist, is by triggering his €500 million release clause.

Current ETV

Julián Alvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

Julián Alvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

€93.4M

ETV Range

€84M - €102.7M

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This obviously won't happen. Barcelona have been trying to unblock the impasse with "dialogue and diplomacy" since Alvarez returned from his post-World Cup break this week, but nothing has changed. Atleti are essentially telling the wantaway striker to shut up and dribble.

With time in the window running out and a deal for the 26-year-old looking unlikely, Barcelona are increasingly forced to consider alternatives as they can ill-afford to go into the new season without a recognised No.9.

Barcelona respond to Suarez - but all is not as it seems

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have begun mulling over a potential pursuit of Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez, who impressed in his first season in Portugal last term.

Obviously, Barcelona have had great success with attackers of that name in the past. Spanish forward Luis Suarez attained legendary status at the club in the late 1950s, while Uruguay international Luis Suarez was one of the world's best strikers during his time in Catalunya in the 2010s.

Sporting's Suarez is a Colombia international who was signed from Almeria to replace Viktor Gyokeres last year. The 28-year-old bagged an impressive 38 goals in 53 appearances in 2025/26.

Because of this output, Romano acknowledged that Sporting do not wish to sell. The only way to prise him away from Lisbon this summer would be by triggering his €80m release clause.

Shortly after Romano published his information, Mundo Deportivo responded with a report of its own. The Barcelona-linked outlet revealed that club sources "categorically deny" any interest in Suarez.

They maintain that Barcelona's sole target remains Alvarez. They will continue to push for his arrival, but it is, of course, accepted that they can't wait around for him forever.

Earlier this week, reports in Spain claimed that Villarreal forward Georges Mikautadze was also being considered as a potential Plan B. Meanwhile, L'Equipe reports that talks are taking place with Christopher Nkunku after he was axed from AC Milan's squad.

What's interesting regarding Suarez, though, is that the player reportedly had a falling-out with Sporting's medical staff last week, which is said to have plunged his future into doubt. Despite the club's best efforts to downplay the incident, there is still supposedly some resentment.

The fact that Barcelona are denying interest in Suarez means very little. As Romano suggests, the club will only formally begin their pursuit of an Alvarez alternative next week at the earliest.

So, if Suarez remains unhappy at Sporting and Barcelona get desperate because they can't reach an agreement for Alvarez, who's to say that they won't try to trigger the Colombian's €80m release clause before the window shuts?