Álvarez has publicly asked Atletico Madrid to allow him to leave this summer and indicated that joining Barcelona is the move he wants to make, delivering the clearest signal yet that the Argentine forward's time at the club he joined from Manchester City in 2024 could be coming to a premature end.
Álvarez spoke to ESPN Argentina after Argentina's 2-0 World Cup win over Austria in Dallas, addressing his club future directly for the first time during the tournament.
"The best thing for everyone is a transfer. And I want to fulfil my dream."
He acknowledged the timing was imperfect.
"I don't think it's the right time to talk about this, but I can't hide either. I have to be honest, and I spoke with the people at the club, the ones I needed to speak with."
Barcelona are the frontrunners. The 25-year-old has informed both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain that his priority is Camp Nou, according to Mundo Deportivo, with Barcelona understood to be preparing a bid reported at around €135 million, potentially rising with add-ons. Atlético value him at €150 million and hold a release clause set at €500 million.
Atlético have resisted all previous approaches aggressively, rejecting a reported €150 million offer from Real Madrid and publicly mocking Barcelona's pursuit on social media. The club would prefer to sell to PSG rather than a domestic rival, but Álvarez's public statement makes that position increasingly difficult to hold.
He scored twenty goals and assisted nine in forty-nine appearances for Atlético last season. He earned Manchester City €75 million when they sold him two summers ago, and a sale at the figures being discussed would represent a substantial profit for Atletico regardless of the destination.