FC Barcelona has decided which number 9 it will try to sign in 2026 according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Getty Images
FC Barcelona has decided which number 9 it will try to sign in 2026 according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
The Catalans have been interested in both Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland in past transfer windows, but have struggled to raise the funds for either former Manchester City teammate in the past.
Even in its post-pandemic economic crisis, Haaland’s €60 million release clause wasn’t a mountain to climb and isn’t far off what they paid City for another forward in Ferran Torres at the turn of 2022.
Afte all the commissions and bonuses for Haaland’s camp, plus the player’s wages, had been factored in, however, it is only a very select few that can afford to keep the Norwegian on its books.
The same newspaper reported on Barca wanting Alvarez in 2024, but in the end the Argentine left the Etihad for Atletico Madrid where he continues to impress as the main target man.
On Saturday, he was fantastic with two goals in a 5-2 comeback win over Real Madrid, and SPORT journalist David Bernabeu stated on his podcast La Posesion that Alvarez is Barca’s number one target next summer and the perfect successor to the number 9 shirt in life after Robert Lewandowski.
Alvarez won’t come cheap to FC Barcelona
With a contract until 2030, Alvarez won’t come cheap to President Joan Laporta, who is a known admirer of the World Cup winner.
SPORT writes that Barca know Atleti won’t let him go for less than €200 million, which would make him the second most expensive player in history should a transfer materialise.
At the same time, Alvarez is known to be an admirer of FC Barcelona with the club’s greatest ever player and his Argentina teammate Lionel Messi a boyhood idol.
FC Barcelona can make space for Alvarez’s salary
There should be plenty of space on the wage bill for him with Lewandowski’s departure, however.
The Pole, in the last year of his contract, is said to cost his club an alarming €26 million a year as part of a deal where his pay increased each term.
Because of his grand old age of 37, this is likely to be Lewandowski’s last season in FC Barcelona colours before moving on to another destination such as the United States or South America.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2025/09/30/fc-barcelona-chooses-9-to-sign-after-lewandowski-reports-sport/
