Barcelona will continue to pursue Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez despite the expected arrival of Gabriel Jesus, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Jesus is due to travel to Barcelona next Monday for a medical examination, which is required before his transfer can be completed. However, Mundo Deportivo reports that the potential signing will not alter Barcelona’s longer-term plans to try to recruit Alvarez.
The Atletico Madrid forward has been one of the main targets identified by Flick and Deco. Barcelona are expected to keep monitoring the situation and could renew their efforts to sign him if Atletico Madrid change their position.
Jesus is viewed as a lower-cost option for Barcelona, with the proposed transfer fee understood to be approximately 10 million euros. The club nevertheless remains aware that Alvarez wants to wear the Blaugrana shirt.
If Barcelona are unable to complete a deal for the Argentina forward this summer, they intend to make another attempt in a future transfer window. The club’s hierarchy places considerable value on Alvarez’s desire to leave Atletico Madrid and move to Camp Nou, and would pursue the player forcefully if a realistic opportunity becomes available.
Atletico stance forces Barcelona to consider alternatives
Atletico Madrid have firmly refused to sell Alvarez to Barcelona. That position has led the club’s sporting directors to examine alternative ways of improving the attack, including the addition of a recognised finisher and greater depth in their forward options.
Jesus therefore represents Barcelona’s immediate solution while their interest in Alvarez remains unresolved. His potential arrival would provide an attacking option at a relatively modest cost, but it would not close the door on a future move for the Atletico Madrid striker.
Barcelona are preparing for a season in which they hope to compete for four major trophies: the Champions League, La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. That ambition is understood to be behind the club’s decision to move quickly for Gabriel Jesus.
The club’s need to strengthen its offensive options has increased because of Atletico Madrid’s unwillingness to negotiate over Alvarez. Even so, Barcelona continue to regard the Argentine as a priority target and will wait for circumstances that could make an agreement possible.
Mundo Deportivo’s report indicates that Barcelona’s plans for Jesus and Alvarez are not mutually exclusive. The former could arrive as the affordable short-term addition, while Alvarez remains the preferred target should Atletico Madrid soften their stance in the future.
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