Flick says Barca may go without striker as Atletico resist Alvarez sale

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated on Wednesday the club may end the summer transfer window without signing a new striker if they fail in their bid to lure Argentinian star Julian Alvarez from rivals Atletico Madrid.

The Spanish champions are still pursuing 2022 World Cup winner Alvarez but Atletico have thus far refused to sell the 26-year-old forward, who missed training on Wednesday due to illness.

Spanish media reported Barca president Joan Laporta wants “Alvarez or nobody” and Flick said the club also had to think about the future and he is happy with his squad.

“I don’t want to speak about Julian. I only want to (speak) about the situation of the club. We made some really good, good transfers now in this market,” the German coach told reporters.

“Our goal is clear, but in the end also the club has to think about the future. Not only the present now.

“Of course as a coach I will say ‘OK, give me the best you can have, and more and more and more’, maybe it works or maybe not. I have total confidence with the quality we have now.”

In July Laporta said Barcelona had made a bid for the Atletico forward and the club were leaving it on the table even after Atletico told them Alvarez was not for sale.

Laporta reiterated later Wednesday that Barcelona are still hoping Atletico decide to sell them Alvarez, who was jeered by the Rojiblancos’ own fans during their 2-2 La Liga draw against Villarreal on Sunday.

“It seems that the player wants to come to Barca, and therefore we continue to hold on to our hope, our intention -- always with the utmost respect for Atletico Madrid -- of being able to sign the player,” said Laporta in a video published by the club.

Laporta said Barca had received “information” that Atletico had been in talks with other clubs about the possibility of selling Alvarez, with the president keen for the striker’s destination to be Camp Nou if he does leave the Spanish capital.

Arsenal have been linked to Alvarez in recent days, while Real Madrid made a bid for the striker at the start of the summer, although it was not seen as a serious attempt to sign him.

“We would like to reach an understanding with Atletico Madrid -- we maintain our proposal, our offer to Atletico Madrid,” continued Laporta.

Agencies