Raphinha of Barcelona don talk say e no understand Atletico Madrid insistence on Julian Alvarez staying. The Catalan club pushed well well for the Argentine striker in summer but Atletico no gree. Raphinha now back Alvarez.
Raphinha tell Spanish media say e no understand wetin Atletico do. E talk say if player no feel comfortable in a role, and e dey talk from experience, e dey very hard for am to work. E make am clear say e want leave club.
In summer, Alvarez push hard for move to Barca and according to rumours e even go on strike. But Atletico refuse to let am leave. One Atletico official tell Marca few days before transfer deadline say chance of them selling am to Barca na zero per cent. E talk say for this case, no be about money, na about dignity. E claim say campaign launch with lies and half-truths and only Atletico go pay price.
Atletico bosses suppose promise say e could leave in summer if club submit offer of €150 million by 20 June, after Alvarez suppose reject contract extension in spring. But that one never happen. Instead Barca publicly court the reigning World Cup runners-up and try put pressure on Atletico through him adviser Hidalgo. Alvarez talk during World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico say move na best option for am and for Atletico too. Meanwhile Atletico keep demanding €500 million. That na fixed release clause in Alvarez contract wey run until 2030.
For end, no transfer happen, even though two Premier League giants Manchester City and Arsenal enter negotiations late. Barca sign Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal instead. Now report say Alvarez dey consider split from him current adviser Fernando Hidalgo after the events and join agency of former player Javier Pastore instead. That agency also represent, among others, Manchester City summer signing Enzo Fernandez. If he change adviser, he fit make another attempt as early as winter to turn him back on Atletico.
So far, coach Hansi Flick don rely mainly on Raphinha at centre-forward during Barca flying start to season. The natural winger join Barcelona from Leeds United in summer of 2022 for €58 million after previously rejecting contract extension. But him departure from English club no come after strike or anything like that.
FC Barcelona try hard throughout summer transfer window to sign Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid unrelenting stance mean say move no materialise. The Blaugrana submit offer worth €100 million, while the player himself declare say e want leave to fulfil him dream. The Rojiblancos never entertain the idea of selling the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner to Barcelona and even report the club to RFEF and FIFA over alleged tapping up of their player.
In the end, Barça rope in Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal as alternative, while mainly relying on captain Raphinha as makeshift centre-forward. But Alvarez still dey on club agenda, with reports suggesting Barcelona intend to return for am as early as January. However, according to Catalunya Radio, any move for Alvarez during January transfer window go complicated for Barcelona to pull off. That na because Blaugrana wage bill don shoot up very high again, with outlet suggesting say e nearly as steep as e be during pandemic era.
Therefore, for Barcelona to sign Alvarez and register am successfully in January, dem go either need one or two major departures or club go need generate extraordinary revenue. Probability of either of those things happening, as things stand, appear slim. So moving for Alvarez in January transfer window go very complicated.
The way Barcelona start new season, dem hardly miss services of ace striker. Raphinha don excel in him new role, Lamine Yamal dey on fire, and new signings Karim Adeyemi, Gabriel Jesus, and Anthony Gordon all dey deliver so far. Furthermore, Fermin Lopez don step up with goals from attacking midfield, while Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart also dey contribute.
