Barcelona is reportedly showing interest in signing Julian Alvarez, the Argentine forward from Manchester City, whom Lionel Messi has previously praised as ‘extraordinary.’ The Catalan club, under the management of Hansi Flick, is looking to bolster their attack by adding Alvarez to their squad.
According to the Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona is impressed by Alvarez’s versatility and sees him as a good fit for their current project. The 24-year-old had a standout season with City, netting 19 goals and assisting 13 times in 54 matches across all competitions.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is said to be considering a move for Alvarez as part of his re-election campaign. Although Laporta had promised to extend Messi’s contract, financial constraints led to Messi’s exit from the club.
Messi has praised Alvarez’s contributions, especially following Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup win. Messi noted (via Manchester Evening News) that Alvarez’s performance was beyond expectations, highlighting his significant impact and effort during the tournament.
Laporta is also interested in Alvarez’s City teammate Erling Haaland, but a move for Haaland is likely to be considered in the future. Barcelona aims to strengthen their squad in response to Real Madrid’s acquisition of Kylian Mbappe.
With four years remaining on his contract with Manchester City, Alvarez’s transfer would require negotiation. Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also reported to be interested in the World Cup winner, who is valued at £80 million.
Alvarez and Messi have developed a close relationship while playing for Argentina. Alvarez was part of the squad that helped Messi win the World Cup, and the pair are currently competing in the Copa America, with Argentina starting the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Chile on June 26.
Before the competition began, Alvarez expressed his hope that Messi would continue playing for Argentina, stating to ESPN that the team benefits significantly from Messi’s presence.
