If Raphinha has any misgivings about playing as a makeshift No 9 for Barcelona, he is doing a good job of hiding it. Julián Álvarez would have been proud of the Brazilian’s two neat finishes that inspired the Spanish champions to a 5-2 victory against Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, 24 hours before the transfer deadline. Lamine Yamal scored two wonderful goals of his own in a performance that reassured everyone he is back to his best.
Add Anthony Gordon to the mix – impressive again in his link-up play – and you have a fluid, fearsome front three. Yet after the departures of Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford this summer, there is no doubt Barcelona not only still want a centre-forward but require one – at least one. Hansi Flick was very happy to see Gabriel Jesus, an £8.6m arrival from Arsenal, in the stands.
But Atlético Madrid’s Álvarez is the ultimate prize. While Mikel Arteta has apparently attempted to speed up a possible deal with a phone call to Álvarez, the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has conducted his interest largely in public. He stirred the pot again last Wednesday after Arsenal’s interest was firmed up.
However, it looks like, from what we hear now, they are trying to reach agreements with other clubs.” Laporta left little to the imagination: “We are very interested in buying Julián Álvarez. We would like our offer to be accepted.” Atlético are not playing ball – and who can blame them? Barcelona’s courting of Antoine Griezmann, who announced he was staying at Atlético in a TV documentary in 2018 only to move to the Camp Nou in 2019, still leaves a sour taste.
Again they have shown disapproval at Barcelona’s behaviour in their pursuit of Álvarez. After the hostile reception he received from Atlético’s fans at the Metropolitano when coming on as a substitute against Villarreal the previous weekend, Álvarez missed some training sessions and Saturday’s 3-1 win at Sevilla. Atlético said the striker was unwell.
He returned to training on Sunday, with Arsenal appearing his only route out by the end of Tuesday – “there is zero consideration of an Álvarez transfer to Barcelona,” Atlético said. Álvarez’s absence was felt keenly at the Camp Nou on Monday – for about 20 minutes. After some sloppy Barcelona finishing and an emphatic strike from Rayo’s Sergio Camello, a striker who came through Atlético’s academy, the headlines were obvious.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
