Budget Session Opens With Inflation at the Centre of Debate

Tanvir HasanSports

Updated: 2 September 2026 at 18:56|2 min read

Budget Session Opens With Inflation at the Centre of Debate — Atletico Madrid did not let go of Alvarez in this summer's transfer window

At a Glance

Barcelona failed to sign Julián Álvarez during the summer transfer window.
Barcelona plans to try again for Álvarez in future transfer windows.
Barcelona is saving funds for a future move to sign Álvarez.
Currently, Barcelona has signed Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal.
Barcelona still prefers Álvarez as Robert Lewandowski's long-term successor.

Barcelona to try again to get Alvarez
Even though the summer transfer market is over, Barcelona has not given up hope of getting Julián Alvarez. The Spanish club tried to sign the Argentine striker but was ultimately unsuccessful. Barca could not implement that plan for the time being as Atletico Madrid refused to let Alvarez go.

However, the Catalan club has plans to try to get Alvarez back in the next transfer window. Spanish journalist Santi Oval claims that they did not spend the huge amount of money that Barcelona wanted to spend to buy a world-class 'number nine' this time. Because the club did not want to spend a large amount of money on an alternative if they did not get the player they wanted.

Oval said on Radio Cadena SER's 'El Larguero' program that Barcelona is also saving money for future transfers to get Alvarez. Their plan is not to sign Alvarez for just one season; rather, they want to bring him to the club on a long-term deal.

Barcelona believe that it is difficult to find a quality striker like Alvarez in the current football market. Therefore, they want to keep Alvarez as their main target without spending a lot of money on any other player.

Temporary solution with Jesus

After not being able to find Alvarez in the end, Barcelona signed Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal on the last day of the transfer window. The club spent about 10 million euros for the Brazilian forward. He has been signed on a three-year contract.

After the departure of Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford, Barcelona needed a recognized striker in the attack. Rafinha can play as a striker if needed, but his main position is the wing. So Barca is trying to fill that gap by bringing Jesus for the time being.

Earlier in August, Barcelona sporting director Deco said that the team has players to fill Ferran Torres' place. But finding a replacement for Lewandowski is very difficult.

Alvarez is still the club's choice as the long-term successor to Lewandowski, who scored 120 goals in four seasons for Barcelona. As a result, even if this time it fails, Barcelona will continue to try to bring him to the Nou Camp in a future transfer window.

A source close to the club also indicated to ESPN that Barcelona's plans for Alvarez do not end here - there will be more transfer opportunities ahead.