Barcelona Eyes Alternatives as Atletico Madrid Holds Firm on Julian Alvarez
Barcelona remains hopeful about securing a deal for Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, despite the latter’s unwavering stance against the sale. Atletico has consistently informed the player that he will not be transferred to Barça this summer.
As the situation evolves, Barcelona may soon need to explore backup options for the 26-year-old forward. Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze has surfaced as a potential candidate. According to Gerard Romero, sporting director Deco is optimistic about Mikautadze’s capabilities, though head coach Hansi Flick does not share the same enthusiasm regarding this option.
Deco Advocates for Mikautadze
Deco views Mikautadze as a promising addition to enhance Barcelona’s offensive lineup if necessary to pivot away from pursuing Alvarez. The Georgian striker is known for his agility and versatile positioning on the field, characteristics that align with Barcelona’s goal of implementing a more dynamic attacking approach.
However, Deco’s support may not be enough, as Flick’s reservations about Mikautadze complicate matters. Romero has reported that Flick “does not see it clearly” at this juncture, indicating he may have doubts about whether Mikautadze fits the specific striker profile he is looking to add to the team. Until now, Barcelona has held off on considering alternate strategies, firmly focusing on Alvarez as their primary target.
Villarreal’s Price Poses a Challenge
Even if Deco and Flick can reach a consensus regarding Mikautadze, Villarreal’s asking price complicates the potential deal further. The club reportedly seeks between €60 million and €65 million for the striker, a hefty sum for a player who has not fully convinced Flick.
For Barcelona, abandoning an expensive primary target like Alvarez to pursue a player whose worth is uncertain would not be advisable. The club needs to align Deco’s sports vision, Flick’s tactical approval, and a financially sensible transfer fee for any signing to materialize.
At present, Mikautadze meets only one of these criteria. Unless Flick reassesses his view on Mikautadze and Villarreal adjusts their financial demands, it seems unlikely that Barcelona will secure this signing before the summer transfer window closes.
Barcelona have so far not given up on the hope of signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid despite the latter’s stubborn stance.
Atletico have maintained the same position since the start of the summer transfer window and have continued to reiterate to the player that he will not be sold to Barça this summer.
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Sooner or later, Barça have to start looking for alternatives to the 26-year-old, and Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze has emerged as an option.
According to Gerard Romero, sporting director Deco is convinced by the Villarreal striker, but Hansi Flick does not currently share the same level of enthusiasm over the operation.
Deco likes Mikautadze profile
Deco sees Mikautadze as a viable option to strengthen Barcelona’s attack if the club are forced to move away from Alvarez.
The Georgian forward offers mobility, sharp movement around the box and the ability to operate across different attacking positions, qualities that would fit Barcelona’s desire for a more fluid front line.
Deco likes Mikautadze. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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However, sporting approval from Deco is not what matters. What seems to be a problem is Hansi Flick’s position.
Romero reports that the Barcelona coach “does not see it clearly” at this stage, suggesting he has reservations over whether Mikautadze is the right striker to complete his squad.
That matters because Flick has been extremely specific about the profile he wants. Julian Alvarez remains his clear first choice, and Barça have resisted looking at a Plan B for so long.
Villarreal price presents major problem
Even if Hansi Flick and Deco manage to reach an agreement on the 25-year-old, Villarreal’s valuation makes this operation difficult.
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The Yellow Submarine are expected to demand between €60 million and €65 million for Mikautadze, which is a significant fee for a player Flick is not entirely convinced about.
Flick not fully convinced. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
For Barcelona, there would be little sense in abandoning an extremely expensive primary target like Alvarez only to overpay for a player the coach is not entirely convinced about.
Barcelona need three things to align: Deco’s sporting assessment, Flick’s tactical approval and a transfer fee that makes financial sense.
Right now, the Georgian international only ticks one of those three boxes.
Unless Flick becomes convinced and changes his mind about Mikautadze and Villarreal soften their demands, it will be a surprise if Barcelona make this signing happen this summer.
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