Overview

• Fernando Torres praised the Atlético de Madrid forward as the best player in the world and voiced surprise at his exclusion from France Football’s Ballon d'Or preselection.
• Álvarez scored twice in Atlético’s 5-2 win over Real Madrid and has five goals in his last two matches, sitting second in LaLiga’s scoring chart with six behind Kylian Mbappé’s eight.
• Spanish outlet SPORT, echoed by multiple media, reports Barcelona has identified Álvarez as its top striking target and could pursue an offer near €200 million, a claim not confirmed by the clubs.
• Any negotiation would be complicated by Álvarez’s contract reportedly running to 2030 and a very high release clause cited at around €500 million, with Barcelona’s scope also tied to potential movement on Robert Lewandowski’s future.
• Market context cited in coverage notes Transfermarkt’s valuations of Lamine Yamal at €200 million and Álvarez at €100 million, while reported annual salaries are about €7.08 million for Álvarez and roughly €15–20 million for Yamal depending on objectives.