Barcelona’s search for a new centre-forward continues to generate speculation, and one name that refuses to disappear is Julian Alvarez.
According to comments made by former Barcelona forward Gary Lineker via SPORT, the Argentine striker may not be entirely satisfied with his current situation at Atlético Madrid.
It is no secret that reinforcing the number nine position is high on Barcelona’s list of priorities for the upcoming summer transfer window.
Alvarez, for that matter, is a player who is highly rated by Barcelona’s sporting management.
However, any move would be far from straightforward, as Atletico Madrid are expected to strongly resist losing a player of his calibre.
Unrest at Atletico?
That said, there are growing signs that the situation may not be as stable as it appears.
In fact, whispers around the player’s dissatisfaction have become louder, suggesting he may be open to a new challenge if the right opportunity arises.
Julian Alvarez, Atletico Madrid player
Barcelona are interested in Julian Alvarez. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The latest figure to add weight to that narrative is Lineker, who spoke about Alvarez during an episode of the podcast The Rest Is Football.
“It’s probably complete nonsense, as most of these things are on social media, but I saw that they were related to Julian Alvarez, who I know is not entirely happy with life at Atletico.”
As reported before, Barcelona are not alone in tracking Alvarez’s situation, as several Premier League sides are believed to be monitoring developments closely, including Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Lineker also shared his view on how transformative Alvarez could be for a team like Arsenal, highlighting the striker’s ability to deliver on the biggest stage. He said:
“Julian is the kind of player you know can handle the big occasion. He’s a world champion, for God’s sake.”
The former Barcelona forward then went a step further in his assessment, adding, “Someone like that at Arsenal would be game over.”