Barcelona still consider Julián Álvarez one of the forwards most liked by the sporting department. However, inside the club, they already assume they will not enter a bidding war for him. That is the major change in recent hours: the Argentine remains a powerful target, but his operation looks increasingly unviable.
The key is that the market around Julián has exploded. He remains one of Barça’s major attacking options, but his signing is complex because of price and competition from PSG. Other recent reports also suggest Atlético Madrid do not officially have him for sale and would only consider an enormous figure.
João Pedro gains real ground
In that scenario, João Pedro is starting to be seen inside Barça as a more realistic option. Deco has reportedly met in London with representatives of the Brazilian striker to study a possible move. The player is also said to be interested in the Barça option.
That does not mean the operation is easy, but it does show the club are working on it more seriously. The reason is clear: although João Pedro would also be expensive, he is considered more negotiable than Julián Álvarez. His value is high, but still below a signing inflated by an international auction.
For Barça, that difference matters a lot. The club need a top striker, but cannot break their entire market plan on one impossible operation. That is why João Pedro’s name is gaining strength in the current planning.
Chelsea remain the big problem
Still, seeing João Pedro as more realistic does not mean the path is clear. Fabrizio Romano has recently insisted that João Pedro is very important for Chelsea and that an exit would be complicated. The English club have no intention of opening the door easily this summer.
That leaves Barça in a very specific position. They cannot chase Julián if the market turns into a wild bidding war, but they also do not have any guarantee Chelsea will negotiate for João Pedro. That is why the Catalan club are moving carefully.
The objective is to find a forward who can raise the team’s level without destroying the financial balance. Deco knows Flick wants a mobile, aggressive and technically complete striker. João Pedro fits that profile, but the numbers must also fit.
Deco has changed the focus
The conclusion inside Camp Nou is becoming quite clear. Barça are not completely giving up on Julián Álvarez, but they will not pay any price for him. They also do not want to fight PSG and other giants in an impossible auction.
In parallel, João Pedro is gaining ground because, although expensive, he looks more workable from a negotiation perspective. Today, Barça still dream of a top striker to lead the new attack. But the market is forcing them to choose not only the best option, but also the most possible one.
Caution note: this situation is based on reported market interest and planning, not an official agreement between Barcelona, Atlético Madrid or Chelsea.
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