Alvarez Confirms His Desire to Leave Atletico
June 25, 2026 · Global
Julian Alvarez expressed his desire to leave Atletico Madrid this summer, in the hope of joining Barcelona, amid interest from other big clubs.
Julian Alvarez has confirmed his desire to leave Atletico Madrid this summer, saying he wants to make his "dream" come true. Alvarez's future has been the subject of huge speculation in recent months, with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal interested in his signature. The Argentine player joined Atletico from Manchester City in August 2024 and has appeared in 106 matches in all competitions, scoring 49 goals. Since his debut on August 19, 2024, Alvarez has scored more goals (49), created more shots (238) and provided the most assists (17) among Atletico players. The 26-year-old has directly contributed to 29 goals (20 goals, nine assists) in 49 games for Atletico in the 2025-26 season (excluding the Club World Cup), which is the fifth-most contribution among LaLiga players. Alvarez has now spoken about his future, claiming that he has spoken to the club about his desire to leave the Metropolitano. "I can't hide, or act as if I don't want to be clear, I try to be honest," Alvarez told ESPN after Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria at the World Cup, as quoted by Marca. "I spoke to the people at Atletico, and I think it's best for everyone that I leave. I want to make my dream come true." Alvarez's intended dream is a move to Barcelona, according to reports, with the LaLiga champions also said to have agreed personal terms with the striker. Real Madrid confirmed they had submitted a €150 million bid for Alvarez which was rejected by Atletico earlier this month, despite the club being determined to keep hold of one of its key players. Alvarez reportedly has a €500 million release clause in his contract.