Julian Alvarez Barcelona transfer splits dressing room as four stars ‘unconvinced’ by €150m move

Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has triggered deep unease in the dressing room, with at least four senior players reported to be against the club spending €150m on the Argentina forward.

The Atletico Madrid striker, who faced several Barcelona players in Sunday night’s 2026 World Cup final, has made clear his desire to leave the Spanish capital and join his boyhood club at Camp Nou this summer.

However, his current employers are refusing to sanction a sale – and, according to Catalan outlet El Nacional, parts of the Barcelona squad and sporting department are far from united behind the move.

Atletico stand firm as Alvarez pushes for ‘dream’ move

Alvarez has publicly declared that he wants to quit Atletico Madrid for Barcelona, described in the report as his “favourite club”.

But Atletico have adopted an uncompromising stance. The club is said to be adamant that their striker will not be sold, “especially not to Barcelona”.

On 17 July, chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin reiterated that position in emphatic terms, signalling that Atletico have no intention of negotiating over the 24‐year‐old.

The impasse leaves Alvarez in limbo: determined to force a transfer, yet blocked by a club hierarchy unwilling to strengthen a direct domestic rival.

Dressing-room doubts over ‘Spider’ signing

While some around Barcelona would welcome the status quo remaining unchanged, El Nacional reports that a number of Barca players are “not enthusiastic” about the potential signing of Alvarez, nicknamed “the Spider”.

The report sharply contradicts claims made in late June by Spanish newspaper Sport, which said Barcelona’s squad had been “pleasantly surprised” by the Argentine’s public emergence and viewed him as a valuable addition.

El Nacional instead says there is no consensus in the dressing room and identifies four players in particular as being unconvinced.

Ferran Torres is described as one of the most resistant to the move. The Spain international reportedly believes he is fully capable of being a regular starter and views the pursuit of Alvarez as a direct threat to his status.

The article adds that Torres has taken the situation to heart and is now seriously considering a move to Paris Saint‐Germain this summer.

Midfielders Gavi and Pedri are also said not to be in favour of the transfer. Both are close to Torres and enjoy a strong relationship with him, and, according to the report, “will not look kindly” on the arrival of the “Spider”, which could further marginalise their friend.

Raphinha is likewise named as sceptical. The Brazilian winger is reported to believe that, after already signing Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, Barcelona do not need to spend €150m on Alvarez.

Sporting chiefs question fee – but Laporta unmoved

Concerns over the proposed fee are not confined to the dressing room. The same report claims that members of Barcelona’s sporting hierarchy share reservations about the scale of the investment.

According to El Nacional, sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick both judge the price for Alvarez to be excessive. They are said to favour allocating the funds to a less expensive option rather than committing such a large portion of the club’s strained budget to a single forward.

That view, however, is not shared by club president Joan Laporta. The Catalan lawyer, who has put marquee signings at the heart of his project since returning to the presidency, is reported to have made Julian Alvarez his main transfer priority for this window.

With Atletico refusing to sell, several key players unconvinced, and senior football staff questioning the economics of any deal, Barcelona now face a complex internal and external battle if they are to land a striker many at the club are not sure they truly need.