Barcelona is preparing for life after Roberto Lewandowski as the striker’s contract ends this summer.
They have now reportedly identified a 2022 FIFA World Cup winner as a possible replacement.
Barcelona Has Picked the Robert Lewandowski Replacement
Lewandowski has not been offered a new deal, and the striker seems set to leave Barcelona at the end of the season. The Catalan side has a tough task of signing his replacement when the summer window opens, and they have narrowed down their search.
According to The Athletic, Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez is one of the key targets for Barcelona. The Argentine was linked with the club when leaving Manchester City, but they could not afford the deal due to their financial crisis.
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He is now back on sporting director Deco’s wishlist, who is pushing to get the striker to Camp Nou. The former Portuguese star has been the decision-maker at the club for some time, and he believes that the 26-year-old will jump at the chance to join them.
Reports earlier this year claimed that Barcelona’s presidential candidates were in talks with Alvarez and had agreed terms with him.
However, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, rebuffed the claims quickly and said, “We have never spoken to any candidate for the presidency of Barcelona and everything that is being said about it is not true. Julian has a contract with Atletico Madrid until 2030, and anyone who wants to sign him must contact the club, not us.”
The striker himself commented on his future earlier this season and left the doors open for an exit. He said that the rumors do not affect him and that he was focused on Atletico Madrid, but Alvarez said:
“Look, it doesn’t bother me. I try not to pay much attention, but I know what’s being said. It’s all over social media. I think it’s more what’s being said online than what’s actually happening. I’m very focused on this season, on what lies ahead with Atlético Madrid. So, I try to tune it out and think about myself, about continuing to grow as a player, and about winning.”
Apart from Alvarez, Barcelona also has other names on their shortlist. Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush are the other names they are considering as the Lewandowski replacement.
Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Juventus’s Dušan Vlahović have also been linked, but The Athletic claims that they are unlikely to be considered when the window opens.
