During his press conference before the match against Rayo Vallecano, Flick confirmed that Deco was still working to strengthen the squad. He did not name specific players or positions, but “Mundo Deportivo” reports that Barcelona would like to add another central defender and a recognised centre-forward.

“Deco is building a very strong team. We are not under pressure. He has done a fantastic job so far,” Flick said, before acknowledging that the sporting director was continuing to assess the available possibilities.

The striker situation is already considerably more advanced. Barcelona are in talks with Arsenal over Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian has reportedly been offered a two-year contract with an option for an additional season.

“Mundo Deportivo” values the total operation at approximately €10 million. TalkSPORT has gone further, reporting that the clubs have agreed a fee of around £8.5 million and that a medical is planned for Monday. The transfer has not yet been officially confirmed by either Barcelona or Arsenal.

Flick needs a striker following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Raphinha has played as the number nine in the opening games of the season, scoring three goals and leading the press effectively. Flick has publicly praised his performances in the position, while Fermín López can also be moved into attack if required.

Those solutions have worked, but they do not change the players’ natural profiles. Raphinha remains a winger operating centrally, while Fermín is a midfielder being pushed closer to goal. Jesus would give Flick a forward accustomed to playing between centre-backs, even if he is not a traditional penalty-box finisher in the Lewandowski mould.

The search for a central defender is much less advanced. Barcelona have sold Ronald Araújo to Liverpool, while Álvaro Cortés is joining Royal Antwerp. The young defender did not train with the team on Sunday and travelled to Belgium to complete his move. Barça are expected to receive approximately €3 million while retaining an option to bring him back.

Flick explained that Cortés needs regular football at the highest possible level. His chances of receiving those minutes in Barcelona would have been limited. The decision makes sense for the player’s development, although it has also shortened the coach’s list of central defenders.

Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martín are currently the natural options in the position. Eric García can move across from full-back, while Jules Koundé is also capable of playing centrally. Every emergency adjustment would, however, weaken another area of the defence.

No specific defensive target has emerged in the latest reports. “Mundo Deportivo” states only that Deco remains active and Flick will continue assessing the situation until the window closes.

The sequence is fairly typical. A few weeks ago, Barcelona planned to replace Araújo internally with an academy defender. That academy defender is now leaving as well, so the club are once again searching for a centre-back. The route was longer, but the need has returned to exactly the same place.

At least there is now a visible solution in attack. Jesus appears close to joining, although an official announcement is still missing. In defence, there is an open position, two days remaining in the window and Deco examining what can still be done.

Flick says there is no pressure. That is probably useful. The pressure already has enough work dealing with two transfers, player registrations and the closing window.

According to Ferran Martínez of “Mundo Deportivo”, Casadó is assessing the possibilities available to him before the transfer window closes. There is currently no confirmation of a formal Leverkusen bid or an agreement between the clubs. Bayer and Beşiktaş are, however, showing the strongest interest.

The Bundesliga option could be particularly attractive to the player. Leverkusen are coached by Carles Martínez, who spent four years working in Barcelona’s academy before later managing Toulouse. Bayer’s official profile of the coach confirms his La Masia background. He understands the environment in which Casadó developed and wants his team to play intense football while providing opportunities to young players.

A move to Leverkusen would allow the 22-year-old to remain in one of Europe’s leading leagues and join a project closer to his footballing profile than the offers he received from Saudi Arabia. Casadó previously rejected approaches from Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli. On the advice of his family, he wants to continue his career in Europe, even if that decision reduces the amount Barcelona can collect.

The Saudi proposals could reportedly have earned Barça approximately €40 million. That is also believed to be Barcelona’s valuation of their academy graduate. The difficulty is that the club’s asking price and the intentions of European buyers may not meet. Everyone involved knows that Hansi Flick does not consider Casadó part of his plans and that the window is about to close.

Flick reportedly informed the midfielder after last season that his role would be reduced and repeated the message during pre-season. Casadó watched the match against Athletic Club from the stands and did not participate in Sunday’s first-team training session. Instead of preparing to face Rayo Vallecano, he is waiting for his future to be decided.

Barcelona therefore have a player under contract until 30 June 2028 but without a place in the coach’s plans. The club extended Casadó’s deal in 2024, presenting him as one of the leaders of the next generation. Two years later, he remains a valuable asset — mainly because he can now be sold.

Beşiktaş are not backing away. The Turkish club have pursued Casadó for some time and continue trying to convince him with their project. The midfielder may nevertheless prefer Bundesliga football under a coach familiar with La Masia.

Everton have also asked about the Spaniard’s situation, but that interest has not developed into advanced negotiations. The same applies to RB Leipzig. Leipzig have already signed Neil El Aynaoui from Roma for the same area of the pitch, making that option significantly less likely.

“Mundo Deportivo” currently identifies Bayer Leverkusen and Beşiktaş as the two strongest possibilities. The player is expected to decide before the window closes on Tuesday.

Casadó has made 75 first-team appearances for Barcelona and played twice for Spain. This is not an anonymous reserve player leaving because he failed to reach the required level. It is an academy graduate who earned his opportunity, proved that he could contribute and was subsequently told that there was no longer a place for him.

Barcelona continue to speak proudly about the importance of La Masia. They are now waiting to discover whether Germany or Turkey will pay for one of its graduates.

Barcelona spent a significant part of the summer trying to bring Atlético Madrid to the negotiating table for Álvarez. Atlético have consistently refused to discuss his departure, leaving the operation effectively blocked. The Argentine remains the preferred option, but Barça have now turned towards a considerably more obtainable centre-forward.

Fernando Polo reports that Barcelona want to attempt to sign Jesus before the transfer window closes. There is currently no confirmation of an official bid, an agreement with Arsenal or personal terms with the Brazilian. The first contacts are understood to have taken place to establish whether the deal can be completed.

Jesus’ situation in London gives Barcelona reasons to believe negotiations are possible. His contract expires on 30 June 2027, making this Arsenal’s final realistic opportunity to collect a substantial transfer fee. Keeping him for another season would create the risk of losing him for nothing next summer.

The 29-year-old’s position under Mikel Arteta has also weakened significantly. Jesus was not included in Arsenal’s squad for their opening two matches and is no longer training with the first team. Arteta attributed the decision to the number of players currently at the club, but the message concerning the striker’s future is difficult to miss. Napoli have also been linked with a move. talkSPORT reported on his removal from first-team training.

Previous reports suggested that Arsenal could accept an offer in the region of £18–20 million. GOAL reported an asking price of at least £18 million. Even after accounting for the player’s salary, the operation would be dramatically cheaper than a move for Álvarez, whose valuation could exceed €100 million.

From a footballing perspective, Jesus fits several of Hansi Flick’s requirements. He can lead the line, move into wide areas and contribute aggressively to the press. He is not, however, a traditional penalty-box striker guaranteed to produce an enormous goal total. His finishing record and injury history make the potential transfer a calculated risk rather than an obvious solution.

Availability may ultimately be the decisive factor. Atlético do not want to sell Álvarez. Arsenal have a striker entering the final year of his contract, playing a reduced role and currently training outside the senior group. An agreement would still have to be negotiated, but this time Barcelona are approaching a door that appears to be open.

Barça began their search with a forward valued at more than €100 million. They may end it with an experienced Brazilian available for a fraction of that amount. The level of ambition has not necessarily disappeared, but the financial scale has been adjusted rather dramatically.

For now, Jesus is a candidate rather than a player close to joining Barcelona. Initial contact does not amount to a transfer, and no formal offer has been confirmed. In the final days of the window, however, an available alternative can quickly become the main solution when the preferred target remains locked inside Madrid.

Reuters reported Álvarez’s return. The striker missed three group sessions late last week, with Atlético consistently describing the reason as an indisposition. He trained alone in Majadahonda on Friday before being left out of the squad for Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Sevilla.

Álvarez was back in training on Sunday. It is the first concrete change after several days in which each absence was interpreted as another indication that his departure could be approaching.

Before the Sevilla match, Mateu Alemany insisted Atlético’s plan was clear. The club’s director of men’s professional football said Álvarez had not been feeling well but was expected to return quickly and become available for their next LaLiga fixture. Alemany also said he had continued to speak with the striker normally.

Returning to training does not settle every issue, but it allows Atlético to regain control of the story. For several days, the player’s absence fuelled speculation and created the impression that the situation was moving towards a breaking point. The club can now return to its established position: Álvarez was unwell, he has resumed work and should soon be available to play.

Very little has changed for Barcelona. During the World Cup, the Argentine publicly spoke about his dream of playing for the Catalan club. His preference, however, has not been enough to begin negotiations. Atlético chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín accused Barcelona of acting dishonestly and stated that Álvarez would not be sold to them.

This is not simply a case of Atlético waiting for a higher bid. The Madrid club have presented it as a matter of their position, their relationship with Barcelona and their own credibility. Barça may have money, a sporting project and a vacancy in attack, but they still need somebody to sit on the other side of the table. That chair remains empty.

Sources cited by Reuters consider Arsenal the only realistic alternative if the Premier League club submit an offer of around €150 million. Even that route is far from guaranteed. Atlético are not under pressure to sell, while Álvarez has previously suggested that Barcelona, rather than a return to England, is his preferred destination.

The Spanish transfer window closes on Tuesday. There is little time left, and Álvarez’s return to training reduces the pressure on Atlético. Every day without formal talks works in the Madrid club’s favour. They can simply reach the deadline and reintegrate the striker into the team.

Barcelona can continue watching and hoping for a sudden turn. Atlético, meanwhile, are watching their own player train. Only one of those clubs currently has Álvarez exactly where it wants him.

The transfer was confirmed on Barcelona’s official website. The Croatian has signed a four-year deal, although the club did not disclose the fee. Cadena SER puts the initial payment at approximately €2 million, potentially rising to €4 million with add-ons.

The more interesting question is where Livaković fits in. Cadena SER expects him to become Joan García’s deputy, with Szczęsny dropping to third choice. That is the station’s reporting, not a pecking order announced by Hansi Flick.

Speaking before the Athletic Club match, Flick was more cautious. He said he was happy with Szczęsny, valued experienced goalkeepers and still had time to make a decision. Earlier plans involved loaning Livaković out before bringing him back when the Polish goalkeeper’s current contract expires. Barça Blaugranes also notes that his immediate role remains unclear.

The 31-year-old arrives after an unusual season. He spent the first half on loan at Girona without making an appearance, then returned to Dinamo Zagreb on loan in January. There, he kept eight clean sheets in 15 matches and helped the club win the league. He previously made 74 appearances for Fenerbahçe.

Barcelona have secured an experienced goalkeeper for four years. Szczęsny, for now, has the reassurance that his coach is pleased with him. The team sheets will tell us how much that reassurance is worth.

The Argentine missed Thursday’s session after sitting out Wednesday’s training through illness. AS confirmed his latest absence as Atlético continued preparations for Saturday’s away match against Sevilla.

According to 20minutos, illness was again given as the explanation. There is no confirmation that Álvarez refused to train to force a transfer. Declaring a rebellion requires rather more evidence than an empty space in a training drill.

Simeone’s position is a separate issue. Barça Universal, citing Gastón Edul, reports that the coach has accepted the possibility of selling the forward, having grown frustrated with the disruption surrounding his future.

That remains a journalist’s report, not a public announcement from Simeone. Even if accurate, it does not settle the question of where Atlético would allow Álvarez to go.

In comments to Marca carried by Reuters, Atlético ruled out selling him to Barcelona and framed their position as a matter of dignity. A coach’s willingness to lose a player does not override the board’s choice of buyer.

Joan Laporta is keeping Barcelona’s offer alive. In his Wednesday remarks, reported by 20minutos, the president reiterated the club’s interest and pointed to reports of Atlético discussing a sale with other teams.

Laporta can repeat his interest as often as he likes. An offer does not become accepted through the sheer number of appearances in front of a camera.

Barcelona therefore have another development to follow, but no signing to announce. The decisive answer will not come from a training report.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Sociedad will pay €8 million for Fort. Barcelona will retain a 50% sell-on clause and an option to buy the player back for approximately €20 million. All parties have accepted the terms, earning the operation the familiar “here we go” label.

The transfer has not yet been officially announced by either club. Contracts still need to be signed, but no remaining obstacle has been reported.

Barcelona are therefore selling an academy graduate for €8 million while keeping two routes back into his future. If Fort develops at Real Sociedad and is later sold, the Catalan club will receive half of the transfer fee. If Barcelona decide they want him back themselves, they can reportedly do so for around €20 million.

It is a fairly detailed insurance policy for a player who could not find a place in the current squad.

Fort joined Barcelona’s academy ahead of the 2013–14 season and progressed through the La Masia system. He made his senior debut during the 2023–24 campaign but was unable to establish himself permanently in the first team. He spent last season on loan at Elche, and it became clear this summer that Hansi Flick could not offer him regular minutes.

Joao Cancelo’s return added more competition. The Portuguese defender can play on either flank, while Eric Garcia has also been used at right-back. Fort needed playing time that Barcelona were not prepared to guarantee.

Borussia Dortmund had appeared to be his most likely destination. The Bundesliga club held advanced talks and were searching for a right-back after Yan Couto’s loan move to Como. Fort was reportedly interested in moving to Germany, but the clubs did not reach an agreement.

Real Sociedad took advantage and presented a project that convinced the player. German media have also confirmed that Dortmund have missed out. Bild reports that BVB’s pursuit collapsed despite the earlier negotiations.

The valuation is the most interesting part of the deal. Reports only a few days ago suggested Barcelona hoped to receive as much as €20 million for Fort. The guaranteed fee will instead be less than half of that figure. The club have attempted to bridge the difference with clauses that depend on the defender’s future development.

It is a sensible arrangement, but it also reflects Barcelona’s negotiating position. Fort was not required in Flick’s squad, the player needed regular football and the transfer deadline was approaching. Real Sociedad did not need a detailed financial analysis to identify which club was under greater pressure.

The 50% sell-on clause could still bring Barcelona a significant future payment. The buy-back option also protects them from a familiar academy scenario: a young player leaves, develops rapidly and becomes too expensive to bring home.

For either clause to matter, Fort must first perform well enough at Real Sociedad.

From the player’s perspective, the move looks logical. He remains in LaLiga, joins a club with a strong record of developing young footballers and should receive more opportunities than he would in Barcelona. Instead of waiting behind Cancelo and Garcia, he can compete for a meaningful place in the team.

Barcelona receive €8 million and create space in their squad. Real Sociedad acquire a 20-year-old defender with LaLiga experience. Fort gets a clearer route to regular football.

Everybody can be satisfied. At least until the academy graduate plays well enough for Barcelona to consider paying €20 million to recover the solution they previously sold for eight.

A club source quoted by Marca has categorically ruled out selling Julian Alvarez to Barcelona. The message from the Metropolitano is now said to be simple: there is a 0% chance of the Argentine joining Barça.

The response followed another public intervention from Joan Laporta. Barcelona’s president confirmed that the club remain interested in Alvarez and said he wants Atletico to accept their offer. Laporta also insisted that Barça have approached the situation with maximum respect.

Madrid appears to have reached a different conclusion.

“This is not about money, it is about dignity,” the Atletico source reportedly said. The club believes it has been harmed financially and socially, while the public narrative around Alvarez has been described as a campaign involving lies and half-truths.

This is not an official Atletico statement. It is nevertheless a remarkably firm message delivered by somebody speaking from inside the club.

According to Cadena SER, Barcelona’s opening proposal was worth €90 million plus €10 million in add-ons, with the payments spread across six years. Atletico rejected it and have no intention of strengthening a direct domestic rival.

Barcelona can call that a €100 million package. Atletico can look at the six-year payment schedule and conclude that it resembles a television series more than a bank transfer.

The dispute has already moved beyond ordinary transfer negotiations. Cadena SER reports that Atletico have submitted evidence to the RFEF and FIFA concerning alleged pressure from Barcelona and the player’s representatives. The Madrid club believes the saga has damaged Alvarez’s value, performances and relationship with supporters.

That tension was visible during the 2-2 draw with Villarreal. Alvarez was jeered while warming up, when his name was announced and again as he entered the pitch. He walked down the tunnel alone after the final whistle while his teammates acknowledged the crowd.

The striker missed Wednesday’s training session due to illness, although El País reports that he is expected to be available for Atletico’s next match.

Hansi Flick has said that he is aligned with Laporta and Deco over Alvarez but does not want to keep discussing the striker publicly. He also stressed his confidence in Barcelona’s existing squad. That is useful insurance when the selling club has stopped talking about money and started talking about dignity.

Alvarez’s preference may give Barcelona encouragement, but it cannot replace an agreement with Atletico. Laporta asked for the offer to be accepted. The current answer from Madrid is not a price.

It is zero.

The club had reportedly decided to wait until Monday, August 24 for a breakthrough before turning to other centre-forward options. Monday came and went without Atletico Madrid changing their position. Barcelona’s response is apparently to extend the deadline and keep waiting.

Reports cited by Barca Blaugranes claim that Hansi Flick and Deco are prepared to remain patient until the summer transfer window closes. Alvarez is still their preferred choice and Barcelona will be ready to act if Atletico finally become willing to negotiate during the final days of the window.

That represents a change from the plan reported by La Vanguardia last week. Deco was expected to explore the market once the Alvarez deadline expired, with Lautaro Martinez and Club Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi among the names being considered.

The alternatives may no longer matter. The Athletic reports that there is a strong possibility Barcelona will sign no striker at all if they cannot get Alvarez. The other available candidates have not convinced everyone involved in the decision and the club do not want to spend heavily on a player who would not clearly improve Flick’s squad.

Sport have reported a similar stance. Barcelona will not sign a temporary solution simply to fill the vacancy before the window closes. They are unwilling to overpay for a striker without sufficient sporting guarantees.

There is logic behind that decision. There is also the small matter of Barcelona spending most of the summer explaining that a new number nine was necessary.

Flick has spoken publicly about the need for a striker, while Deco said the club would probably make a move. Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have both left, and Barcelona do not have a direct replacement for the Polish forward. Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Raphinha and Dani Olmo can all play centrally, but none was signed to become the team’s main centre-forward.

Alvarez remains the exception. The Argentine wants to leave Atletico and has made no secret of his dream of joining Barcelona. Atletico, however, have repeatedly insisted that they will not sell him to a direct rival. He is under contract until 2030 and has a €500 million release clause. Barcelona’s €100 million offer was rejected, with Atletico publicly refusing to open negotiations.

The atmosphere at the Metropolitano has only made the situation more uncomfortable. Alvarez was whistled by Atletico supporters when his name was announced against Villarreal, when he warmed up, when he entered the pitch and virtually every time he touched the ball. Barcelona reportedly believe Atletico now have a genuine problem with a player whose relationship with the club and its supporters has deteriorated badly.

That still does not amount to an agreement. Atletico have not changed their official position and Barcelona have not secured the transfer. The only confirmed development in the story is that the Catalan club are willing to wait longer than originally planned.

If no deal is reached before the window closes, Barcelona could return for Alvarez in January. Until then, Flick may have to rely on the attacking options already available to him.

A new number nine went from a necessity to a priority, then received a deadline. The deadline has expired, but the priority remains. Plan A is still Alvarez. Plan B may simply be waiting for Plan A again in January.

Sources: The Athletic, La Vanguardia, Sport, Barca Blaugranes

Álvarez started the match against Villarreal on the bench. He was booed when the teams were announced, during his warm-up and again when he entered in the 66th minute. Hostile reactions also followed his involvement in the game as Atlético supporters made their feelings about his desire to leave perfectly clear.

According to Juan Jesús, Diego Simeone initially did not want Álvarez included in the squad. CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín allegedly overruled the coach and ordered the forward to be selected. The reported intention was to expose him to the crowd, wear down his resistance and encourage him to accept an offer from outside Spain — particularly Arsenal.

It is a serious allegation and one Atlético have not confirmed. There is also no independent evidence that the supporters’ reaction was orchestrated by the club. One related detail, however, has been publicly established: Álvarez did not approach the stands with his team-mates after the match because Atlético instructed him not to do so.

Simeone explained that the decision came from the club rather than the player. Álvarez was sent directly towards the dressing room to avoid another confrontation. Officially, Atlético were protecting him. According to the latest claim, they had already allowed the stadium to perform the psychological part of the transfer negotiations. Two very different versions of player welfare managed to appear on the same afternoon.

Arsenal have been interested in Álvarez for some time, but the forward’s preference has reportedly been the main obstacle. He was said to favour remaining in Spain and joining Barcelona. Atlético, reluctant to strengthen a domestic rival, would find a move to London far more acceptable.

There is still no confirmation that Álvarez has changed his position following the events at the Metropolitano. Nor is there an officially accepted offer from Arsenal. What can be said with confidence is that his relationship with Atlético’s supporters has reached a point that will be difficult to repair with another statement about unity.

If this really was Gil Marín’s plan, the first stage worked perfectly. Álvarez was jeered, left the pitch alone and gave Arsenal another reason to keep watching. Only one minor task remains: convincing the player whose future was reportedly being negotiated with tens of thousands of whistles.

Sources: TEAMtalk – Juan Jesús’s allegations regarding Atlético’s strategy · Reuters – match report and crowd reaction · AS – Álvarez’s hostile reception at the Metropolitano