Atlético de Madrid is not backing down and remains firm in its position of not selling Julián Álvarez to Barcelona. Despite the fact that the situation at the red-and-white club is unsustainable after the reaction from the stands in last weekend’s match against Villarreal, Gil Marín and Mateu Alemany are clear about it. They are willing to sell him to Arsenal, but not to Barcelona.
At the blaugrana club they are already clear that they will not be able to sign the striker. They had sensed it for some time because they have seen that Atlético’s stance is firm, despite the pressure the footballer has exerted since, during the World Cup, he made some public statements making it clear that the best thing was a transfer. And the impossibility of signing the Argentine opens up a new scenario.
Atlético Madrid asked Julián Alvarez to leave the pitch alone after tense draw
There will be no replacement if Julián doesn’t come
Barça will activate plan B, but this will not be to sign any player. Flick and Deco have decided not to bring in a striker in this summer transfer window. Unless a last-minute market opportunity were to arise, Barça will stay as they are. They are aware that this opportunity is not going to happen with us being one week away from the close of the transfer window.
Market opportunity
Because that opportunity would have to be a top-level player. The Sporting Department is clear that they are not going to bring in a mediocre player. If someone comes, it has to be a powerful striker, and it is very difficult that, with so little time, a club would sell one of its best players because it would hardly have time to find a replacement. Therefore, Barça will stay as they are.
A Flick likes what he sees
One of the reasons for making this decision is what Flick has seen in preseason and in the first official match against Elche. The German is happy with what he has in attack, bearing in mind that his players can operate in several attacking positions, as has been shown in these matches. In Elche, Raphinha had a fantastic game.
The new
For the center-forward position that the Brazilian occupied in the last match, there are several footballers who can also play there. Gordon and Adeyemi, the two signings, although both are wingers, can do so in the center of the attack. The German has already done so in preseason. And Dani Olmo is also perfectly capable of playing in that position.
The youngsters
And we must not forget the youngsters. Hamza Abdelkarim has been the top scorer of the preseason and is showing great promise. Also Bisiwu, who, although he has played less, has shown that he has an eye for goal. Flick is calm with what he has, which is why he is not pushing to bring in a striker. And, if things do not work out, a signing could always be made in January.
