Moretto, speaking on Radio MARCA, said Barcelona plan to contact Atletico Madrid and Álvarez's representatives directly, despite the fact that initial conversations with the player's camp have already taken place over recent months. The Catalan club's interest has intensified following the confirmed departure of Robert Lewandowski, with Álvarez seen as the ideal centre-forward to complete an attacking line alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
"Barça wants him to be the plan A — the striker for Barcelona," Moretto said. "Barça will push hard in the coming weeks to see if they can get involved in the Julián situation."
The path will not be straightforward. Atlético are demanding more than €100 million and have no pressing financial need to sell. Álvarez joined the club from Manchester City in August 2024 for a fee that could reach €95 million and has developed into one of the most important players in Diego Simeone's squad. He is under contract until 2030.
Barcelona are studying a structure that would include players as part of the deal to reduce the cash element of any transfer. Moretto acknowledged this would be necessary: "Barça is thinking about putting players into the operation."
The picture is complicated further by the player's own public position. When asked about Barcelona's interest ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal last month, Álvarez called the reports a "snowball of lies" and insisted his focus was entirely on Atlético. He has since been reported by Moretto as prioritising a move to Barcelona if he does depart — a shift in stance that has sharpened the story significantly.
Atlético are attempting to resolve the matter by offering Álvarez a contract extension. Barcelona also hold Joao Pedro as a secondary option in attack should the Álvarez pursuit prove unworkable. Given the valuation, the sell-on complications and the player's mixed public signals, this transfer is likely to define the summer window in Spain.