Barcelona chased the signing of Julian Alvarez for the entirety of the 2026 summer transfer window, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. Atletico Madrid refused to sell their star striker to a direct rival, and there was nothing that anyone could do to change the minds of their hierarchy.
Thus, Barcelona were forced to move for Gabriel Jesus as a temporary solution to their absence of a natural striker in Hansi Flick’s squad. However, their pursuit of Alvarez is far from over, with [the plan being for another attempt to be made](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/atletico-madrid-send-clear-julian-alvarez-warning-to-barcelona-ahead-of-expected-2027-pursuit/) at prising the Argentina international away from the RiyadhAir Metropolitano.
This has already been communicated to Alvarez and his representatives, as revealed by El Chiringuito’s Jota Jordi (via [Sport](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/jota-jordi-lanza-bomba-julian-alvarez-barca-promesa-134106039)). He explained that Barcelona have made a promise to their top target that they will try everything to sign him in 2027.
**“Julián is committed to being professional for himself. If someone is trying to sell that Julián is from Atlético just like Cholo, that he is happy and that he is very keen, you are wrong. I can assure you that Julián is looking forward to the 1st of January (transfer window re-opens) and talking about what needs to be talked about again.**
**“There is a promise from Barça directly to Julián that they will wait for him as long as it takes, and that from the 1st of January, they will go for him again. There is a promise from Barça to Julián that on the 1st of January, we will start again.”**
The problem for Barcelona and Alvarez is that Atleti are very unlikely to have changed their stance by the time the winter transfer window opens. The player has been re-integrated back into Diego Simeone’s squad, so they will be in a comfortable position when the Catalans inevitably come calling again.