Barcelona might pursue 23-year-old Manchester City attacker and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez to succeed Robert Lewandowski.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Julian Alvarez is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The reigning La Liga champions are closely monitoring the progress of the 23-year-old World Cup winner. They view the young attacker as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski.
Julian Alvarez has seen his star soar since joining Manchester City from River Plate last year. The Argentine international rose in prominence during the 2022 season, his best campaign thus far at the club level, as he guided River Plate to the league title. Since then, he has come leaps and bounds, becoming a pivotal figure for his club and country.
The 23-year-old was excellent during Argentina’s triumphant campaign at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But Alvarez was not a regular starter for Manchester City in the 2022/23 season. However, that has changed this term, with the player managing six goals and five assists in 13 matches thus far.
Alvarez’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of high-profile clubs across Europe. Reports during the summer transfer window linked the World Cup winner with AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, among others. The player is now a target for Barcelona.
Barcelona will greet the arrival of Vitor Roque in 2024. But Robert Lewandowski is well into his thirties and approaching the end of his glittering career. So, it behoves Barcelona to lay down a succession plan for the veteran striker, considering Xavi Hernandez prefers two top-class players for every position.
Julian Alvarez is thus a viable target for Barcelona, especially if his contract contains a release clause worth €50 million. But that seems unlikely, considering the report mentions the terms of his original contract. The Argentine international has since penned a new deal, and Manchester City will likely demand a premium to part ways with him.
But Alvarez is not the only striker on Barcelona’s radar, with the Blaugrana also showing interest in other attackers. However, recent reports have claimed that the reigning La Liga champions are prioritising tying Lewandowski to a new contract. So, a move for Alvarez might not be on the cards yet anyway.
