Julián Alvarez has become the center of attention for FC Barcelona following his standout performance despite his team Atlético Madrid's 4-0 defeat against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. The Argentine player was the most prominent figure in the match, creating several chances and coming close to scoring at least two goals, but he left the pitch frustrated, indicating his dissatisfaction with the team's situation this season.

Alvarez moved to Atlético Madrid after being convinced by the club's project and the vision of coach Diego Simeone, with the team paying around 80 million euros to sign him from Manchester City. The goal of the deal was to enable him to play regularly in La Liga and continue to develop, with a promise to build a team capable of competing in all competitions.

Despite the significant investments made by Atlético this summer, exceeding 175 million euros, the club has struggled to find a suitable attacking partner for Alvarez, which has diminished the team's chances of competing for La Liga. This impact was clearly visible in the heavy loss against Arsenal, despite the impressive performance of the Argentine star, who received praise from opposing players.

After Arsenal's third and fourth goals, Alvarez appeared visibly frustrated and remained on the pitch among the few options creating danger. This is not the first time he has expressed frustration over being substituted or not finding adequate support in the team, as happened against Mallorca in La Liga.

So far, Alvarez and his agent have decided not to take any steps before 2026, expressing their gratitude to Atlético for the opportunity provided to them, but they are aware that continuing at the club may not optimally support the player's development. On its part, Atlético has confirmed its refusal to sell the player, offering to improve his salary and extend his contract, with a release clause valued at 500 million euros, making any potential transfer difficult.

However, there are indications within the club that Atlético Madrid may agree to sell him for 200 million euros, a figure that only Paris Saint-Germain might be able to afford, as they are closely monitoring the player. The final decision remains tied to Alvarez's desire to leave, and if the player insists on departing, negotiations will take place even if it requires a direct sale.

Barcelona needs to fulfill two conditions to complete the deal: reducing the player's valuation to a realistic level, as the 'Transfermarkt' platform estimates his value at 100 million euros, and the possibility of including players in the deal to strengthen negotiations as the season progresses.

As the season goes on, the chances of Alvarez wanting to wear the Catalan team's jersey increase, making the deal possible in the near future, according to the Spanish newspaper 'Sport.'