Transfer Market: Barcelona Not Giving Up on Álvarez; Deco Already in Madrid

Barcelona continues its pursuit of Julián Álvarez, with sporting director Deco and head of scouting João Amaral scheduling a crucial meeting in Madrid with the Argentine forward's agent, Fernando Hidalgo.

According to the Catalan daily Sport, this encounter aims to outline the strategy for a deal that remains the top priority for the Catalan club's sporting management.

Deco was spotted arriving in Madrid on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of this pivotal meeting.

Despite their determination, Barça's hierarchy acknowledges the difficulties of the transfer. Atlético Madrid's stance is unyielding, as the club is unwilling to release one of its most influential players. Adding to this, the complex institutional relationship between the two clubs presents another significant hurdle in a negotiation of this magnitude.

Nevertheless, at Camp Nou, the conviction to fight for the Argentine international remains strong. Joan Laporta and Deco consider Julián Álvarez the primary target to bolster their attack and believe there are still avenues to explore before abandoning the transfer. The meeting with Fernando Hidalgo will serve precisely to re-evaluate the plan devised months ago and decide on the next steps.

Barcelona is in dire need of a striker: Robert Lewandowski has already departed, and Ferrán Torres is entering the final year of his contract. In this regard, Pavlidis is also on the Catalans' shortlist, but Álvarez remains the team's main target this summer.