Barcelona knew from the very beginning that signing Julian Alvarez would never be simple.

Convincing Atletico Madrid to part ways with one of their biggest stars has always been the toughest part of the operation, not just because of the player’s importance but also because direct business between the two clubs is rarely simple.

Yet within Barcelona, optimism prevails, which has prompted the club to prepare its next move.

According to AS, Barcelona have accepted that their opening proposal was not enough to seriously test Atletico Madrid’s resolve.

Rather than walking away, the club is now working on an improved offer that they hope will reopen negotiations and keep alive their dream of bringing the Argentine striker to Spotify Camp Nou before the new season begins.

Barcelona believe Alvarez is worth one more push

While Barcelona have strengthened wide areas of the squad this summer, Alvarez remains the player the sporting department believe could elevate the attack to another level.

That conviction explains why Barcelona are prepared to increase their financial commitment despite seeing their first approach fail to convince Atletico Madrid.

President Joan Laporta has already confirmed that an offer has been submitted, although he also stressed that Barcelona would not abandon their financial discipline simply to complete a headline signing.

Following up on that, the club is currently trying to strike a delicate balance, improving the proposal enough to encourage Atletico Madrid into meaningful negotiations without compromising the sustainability of the project.

Post-World Cup period could change everything

As such, timing has become one of the most important factors in the operation.

Barcelona are expected to return with a revised proposal once the World Cup has concluded, allowing all parties to focus fully on the transfer without the distraction of international football.

Their initial bid, worth less than €100 million, was never expected to tempt Atletico Madrid, particularly with Alvarez protected by a €500 million release clause.

While nobody realistically expects Barcelona to activate that clause, there is a basic understanding that it would require anything north of €100 million to at least convince Atletico Madrid of opening negotiations.

Simply put, Barcelona simply want Atletico Madrid to engage in genuine negotiations, as until now, the Madrid club has shown little willingness to discuss a transfer, but an improved financial package could at least create room for conversations.