Barcelona target Julian Alvarez wants to leave Atletico Madrid to fulfil his dream

Argentina forward Julian Alvarez has revealed he wants to leave Atletico Madrid, saying a transfer would help him “fulfill his dream,” amid reported interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old spoke publicly about his future for the first time after Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria in the FIFA World Cup on Monday. The win secured the defending champions a place in the knockout stage, while Alvarez made his second substitute appearance of the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury.

Alvarez admitted he has already held discussions with Atletico Madrid regarding his future and believes a move would be the best outcome for all parties involved.

“I spoke with the people at the club, with those I needed to talk to, and I think the best thing for everyone is a transfer. I want to fulfill my dream,” Alvarez told reporters.

“It’s not the time to talk about this, but I also can’t hide it. I try to be an honest person.”

The striker did not reveal his preferred destination, but his comments are likely to intensify speculation over his future. Spanish and Argentine media have linked him with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, while Atletico Madrid reportedly rejected a €150 million offer from rivals Real Madrid earlier this month.

Alvarez, however, indicated that a resolution is not imminent.

“It’s not known when it will be resolved,” he said.

The uncertainty comes despite Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo recently insisting that the club had received no indication from Alvarez that he wanted to leave. Cerezo also criticised attempts by rival clubs to lure the forward away and reiterated that Alvarez would only be allowed to leave if his €500 million release clause was met.

Barcelona are believed to be leading the race for the Argentina international as they prepare for the eventual transition from veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Reports in Spain suggest the Catalan giants have already submitted an offer worth €100 million and could return with an improved bid after the World Cup.

The Catalan club have already strengthened their attack this summer with the signing of Anthony Gordon and are reportedly prioritising a move for Alvarez as their next major transfer.

Atletico, however, remain adamant that the former Manchester City striker is not for sale.

Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 in a deal reported to be worth around €95 million (£81.5 million). Since arriving in Spain, he has established himself as one of Diego Simeone’s most important players, scoring 49 goals and providing 17 assists in 106 appearances across all competitions.

While his domestic numbers dipped during the 2025-26 campaign, with eight La Liga goals after scoring 17 in his debut season, Alvarez enjoyed an outstanding run in Europe. He scored 10 goals in the Champions League as Atletico reached the semi-finals before suffering elimination at the hands of Arsenal.

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