Barça Hopes Simeone Will Deliver Álvarez

Barcelona have found another way to complete a transfer without convincing the club that actually owns the player. According to Mundo Deportivo, Julián Álvarez plans to speak with Diego Simeone after returning to Atlético and explain once again that he wants to leave. Barça hope the coach can open a door that Atlético’s hierarchy have kept firmly shut for weeks.

The Argentine is expected back at the club by 10 August. He has no intention of skipping training or starting an open rebellion. Instead, he wants to handle the situation calmly and remind Atlético that, according to his version of events, they had promised to help him leave. The slight complication is that his contract runs until 2030 and Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has no desire to strengthen a direct rival.

Barcelona’s plan is therefore beautifully simple: Álvarez must convince Simeone, Simeone must convince Atlético, and Atlético must forget that Barça have spent months trying to take away their most important striker. The Catalan club can then remain in its favourite position – waiting for a miracle and presenting it as a transfer strategy.