The summer transfer window is heating up, with both Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Barcelona showing significant interest in securing the services of Julian Alvarez. However, the Catalan giants appear to hold a crucial advantage: the 26-year-old Atlético Madrid forward is actively and publicly pushing for a move to the Camp Nou. Despite this, football legend Luis Suarez has suggested that Alvarez’s highly anticipated transfer might not materialize until next year.
“A player as intelligent as Julian, with the journey he has taken since leaving River Plate, through Manchester City, Atlético, and also with the national team, would arrive and adapt because he would know how to fulfill his role.” Following Pedri’s open welcome for Julian Alvarez regarding a potential transfer to FC Barcelona, voiced to RTVE, it was Luis Suarez who weighed in on this market speculation for Mundo Deportivo, indicating it’s more than just a rumor. The Argentine international reportedly used his involvement in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the Albiceleste as an opportunity to convey his desire to depart Atlético Madrid, aiming to fulfill his “dream” of joining FC Barcelona.
“It’s going to be difficult to leave”
“He is a player who works incredibly hard. At Barcelona, he would have wingers alongside him who would create numerous chances. He possesses excellent passing ability and smart movement. He would integrate into Barça immediately. But there’s the other aspect. He plays for a big club like Atlético. It’s going to be difficult to leave. These coming weeks are going to be thrilling,” continued the former FC Barcelona striker, who enjoyed a successful spell with the Blaugrana institution between 2014 and 2020. While Barça certainly has the player’s preference, they likely do not have the approval of Atlético Madrid, who intend to resist any offers throughout the entire summer until the transfer window closes on September 1, 2026.
“Stay. Next year, you’ll go wherever you want: to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern”
PSG, who have also been interested in Julian Alvarez’s profile for two years now, might miss out on him this season. However, this could merely be a temporary setback. Drawing from his own experience, Luis Suarez recounted being persuaded to stay at Liverpool in 2013 before ultimately departing for FC Barcelona a year later.
“These are situations that arise at a certain point. I experienced this myself at Liverpool. In 2013, I pushed for a move because I wanted to join Arsenal. I had a disagreement with the club because we hadn’t qualified for the Champions League, and I felt I needed to take a new step. I remember the captain, Gerrard, took me aside and told me: ‘Stay. Next year, you’ll go wherever you want: to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern… But this year, please, stay. You cannot leave for Arsenal.’ And he convinced me. In Julián’s specific case, the same thing could happen: that Cholo takes him aside and tells him: ‘This year, I want you to stay with us.’ For me, it was a Liverpool legend, the captain, who convinced me. I listened to reason, then I went out to apologize, and it ended up being my best season at the club. The fans, even if you try everything to force a departure, if you then step onto the pitch and they see you giving your all, working hard, and defending the club, they eventually applaud you.”
