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Barcelona are not giving up on signing Arsenal target Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid and could increase their offer after the World Cup.
President Joan Laporta says their current bid of just £100m remains on the table – but sources in Spain suggest they could raise it to more than £110m (€130m) plus bonuses.
The club have yet to decide whether to extend the offer but – regardless – a new bid by Barca for Atletico is still not expected to go well.
With relations between the clubs at an all-time low amid public debate on social media, Atletico are almost certain to continue their stance of refusing to sell him.
Real Madrid announced last month that Atletico had rejected their £130m (€150m) bid for Alvarez.
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Gary Cotterill revealed possible ‘mischief’ behind Real Madrid’s ‘eyesore’ €150m bid last month
Barca president Joan Laporta believes Atlético’s position is in decline for lack of an identified replacement, while Atlético CEO Miguel Gil Marin accused Barca of “disrespecting us”.
“I talked to Gil Marin. He told me they don’t plan on letting him go, but the offer is solid and we’re on board with it,” LaPorta said.
“It remains on the table and the deal can still go through, but the offer is not open. Atletico said no because they didn’t have a replacement. We’ll see if they get one.”
Alvarez’s brilliant strike against Switzerland sent Argentina into the World Cup semi-finals.
Alvarez has been booked to go on holiday after finishing his World Cup campaign with Argentina.
He will then return to pre-season training with Atletico while almost certainly talking to the club’s hierarchy about his future.
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Diego Simeone admitted last season that Champions League rivals Arsenal were interested in Alvarez.
Sky Sports News It has already been reported that Alvarez’s dream is to sign for Barcelona – and his family are said to want to continue living in Spain.
This is one of the main hurdles the likes of Arsenal and PSG – who are interested – must overcome if they are to lure the forward instead.
Privately, Atletico are understood to be more open to the idea of selling him to Arsenal or PSG – should Alvarez demand to leave the Metropolitano for either club.
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Mikel Arteta was tight-lipped when asked about Arsenal’s interest in Alvarez
But at present he and his family are not interested in moving to England or France. Sky Sports News understand
That means, as it stands, Alvarez seems more likely to stay at Atletico unless he or the club is willing to pay the ground.
Either Alvarez and his family float the idea of moving abroad and push for a transfer, or Atlético waive their ban on Barcelona entirely.
