FC Barcelona has set a deadline of July 31 for its offer to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.
The club's president, Joan Laporta, confirmed that the offer made for the Argentine striker would not remain valid indefinitely. "We have made an offer, but this offer is not unlimited in time," he said.
Later, while in New York supporting the Spanish national team during the final stages of the World Cup, Laporta narrowed the timeframe further. "The deadline for the offer is between the last week of July and the first week of August," he added.
This period has officially begun, with today marking 28 July, according to AS.
From a sporting perspective, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is eager to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Flick wants his new No. 9 available quickly or, at the very least, certainty over which players he will have at his disposal for the new season.
Atletico Madrid, however, have consistently insisted they have no intention of selling the striker. Their CEO, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, made their stance unmistakably clear from the outset. "We didn’t accept the €100 million offer, nor will we accept one of €150 million or €200 million," he firmly stated.
Barcelona maintain that they already have an alternative plan in place should the move for Alvarez ultimately fail.
The only development capable of altering the current course of events would be another public statement from Alvarez reaffirming his desire to leave Atletico Madrid. Until then, Barcelona's deadline is approaching, while uncertainty continues to surround one of the club's priority transfer targets.
Source: Yahoo Sports