Barcelona have not walked away from Julián Álvarez, but Atlético Madrid remain adamant that they will not sell. That impasse was at the centre of Deco’s discreet trip to Madrid, where the Barcelona sporting director met the forward’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, as the club seek to keep alive a transfer pursuit that has stalled.
Where the Saga Stands
Deco’s meeting with Hidalgo was reported by Sport, which said the summit was intended to refine Barcelona’s strategy for a deal that remains the club’s priority. Gerard Romero of Jijantes reported that Deco travelled with Joao Amaral and described the meeting as a last attempt to keep the operation alive.
The fundamentals have not shifted. Atlético are not selling, while direct communication between the clubs has effectively broken down. Reports suggest Atlético’s executive leadership believe Barcelona and Real Madrid are attempting to humiliate Los Rojiblancos, a perception that has contributed to the paralysis around the operation.
Barcelona’s initial €100 million offer was rejected. According to Jijantes, the club are prepared to improve that figure if Atlético show willingness to engage, but the reporting does not indicate that a breakthrough is close.
A Closed Institutional Channel
With direct club-to-club contact effectively closed, Barcelona have shifted their approach towards maintaining contact through Álvarez’s camp. The purpose of Deco’s meeting with Hidalgo was to keep the club positioned to react quickly should Atlético’s stance change.
Sport reported that the Madrid summit did not signal an immediate breakthrough. Those inside Barcelona are also said to be careful not to project false optimism, acknowledging that the signing is exceptionally complex.
Álvarez’s importance to Atlético adds to the difficulty. The 26-year-old scored 20 goals in the 2025-26 season and has 49 in 106 appearances for the club since arriving from Manchester City. His contract runs until 2030, and any formal Barcelona offer would require Atlético’s cooperation to progress.
The Player’s Position
Central to Barcelona’s continued pursuit is the belief that Álvarez wants the move. He made a public transfer request six weeks earlier, while sources close to the player have suggested that he believes Miguel Ángel Gil Marín broke a previous promise to facilitate an exit should he wish to leave. That allegation remains conditional, but it helps explain why the player’s camp remains engaged despite Atlético’s public stance.
Atlético’s executive leadership, meanwhile, have maintained that the forward is not for sale. The differing positions, combined with the strained relationship between the clubs, have left no clear route towards a negotiated agreement.
What Álvarez Will and Won’t Do
According to the reporting tracking Deco’s contact with Hidalgo, Álvarez will not breach his contract or lead a public rebellion against Diego Simeone. He is expected to remain professional regardless of how the transfer situation develops.
Hansi Flick reiterated on Monday that he would like Barcelona to sign a striker and expressed complete confidence in Deco to complete a deal. That maintains the club’s need for a forward reinforcement, even as the Atlético channel remains closed.
What Would Break the Deadlock
Barcelona are prepared to improve their rejected €100 million offer if Atlético show any willingness to engage. For now, however, Atlético’s position remains unchanged and the institutional relationship between the clubs remains a major obstacle.
Deco’s trip to Madrid is evidence that Barcelona have not abandoned their pursuit. It is not, however, evidence that Atlético are close to changing their mind.
