Reigning La Liga champions for the second year in a row Barcelona started the season strong with a 0 – 5 win over Elche. Tomorrow Thursday they are in action again when they take on Athletic Club and complete with it the second La Liga round.
Barcelona have laid out a clear plan for the final days of the transfer window: 130 million euros will secure Julián Álvarez – but first three players must be sold.
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FC Barcelona have set aside €130 million to try and sign Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez before the window closes. The plan is crystal clear.
According to Gerard Romero in Jijantes, Barcelona’s budget is dependent on the club first selling more players. Castello Lukeba – the centre-back from RB Leipzig – is ready as an alternative in defence, but only if three strategic sales are completed.
The hunt for Álvarez – and Atlético’s no
The management under Joan Laporta has earmarked 130 million euros solely to secure Álvarez. But here they face a wall of resistance: Atlético Madrid flatly refuse to negotiate a sale of the Argentine to any league rival.
Despite the Spaniards’ rejection, Barcelona are still pushing the deadlines in the transfer window. The sporting directors are not considering spending the money on other strikers if the Álvarez transfer does not go through.
The Lukaba signing requires three sales
At the same time, Hansi Flick’s support staff has given the green light for Castello Lukeba – RB Leipzig’s left-footed centre-back who can also play full-back. But the signing of the 23-year-old Frenchman will not be formalized until the club sells Héctor Fort, Marc Casadó and Alejandro Balde by September 1.
Defence planning is part of a larger accounting trick to balance the salary budget after a hectic summer at Camp Nou.
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In – and out – at Camp Nou
During this window, Barcelona have acquired:
- Anthony Gordon
- Rodri
- Karim Adeyemi
- Jesse Bisiwu
- João Cancelo
At the same time, these have left the club:
- Ferran Torres
- Ronald Araújo (loan to Liverpool)
- Ansu Fati
- Iñaki Peña
- Jofre Torrents
- Marc-André ter Stegen
- Tommy Marqués
- Robert Lewandowski
48 hours that decide everything
Barcelona’s management will take the next 48 hours to finalize exit negotiations for Fort, Casadó and Balde with their respective interested clubs. If all three sales are completed by the deadline, sporting directors will formalise an initial bid to RB Leipzig for Lukeba – while waiting for a final response from Atlético Madrid about Álvarez.
The dream of Álvarez is alive – but time is running out.
