Barcelona sporting director Deco has provided fresh clarification on the club’s attempts to sign Julián Álvarez, revealing that Barça proposed a €100 million deal to Atlético Madrid that would have been paid over three seasons.
The comments offer a different perspective on the financial structure of Barcelona’s proposal and come amid continued discussion surrounding the Catalan club’s interest in the Argentine striker.
Speaking to RAC1, Deco explained that Barcelona were prepared to commit €100 million for Álvarez but wanted the transfer fee to be structured across multiple instalments. According to the Barça director, the proposed arrangement would have seen the club pay the amount over three seasons.
“We made an offer to pay €100m over three seasons. There are clubs that pay in FIVE instalments,” Deco said.
The statement is significant because the structure of Barcelona’s proposed payment has been a major talking point surrounding the transfer. Reports and speculation had previously suggested different instalment arrangements, leading to questions about exactly how Barça intended to finance such a major acquisition.
Deco’s explanation makes clear that Barcelona were willing to make a substantial financial commitment for Álvarez, while also attempting to spread the cost over a manageable period.
Barcelona’s Financial Strategy
The proposed €100 million package underlines the level of importance Barcelona placed on Julián Álvarez.
The Argentine forward is regarded as one of the elite attacking players in European football, combining technical ability, movement, finishing and versatility. His ability to operate as a central striker or in wider attacking positions makes him particularly attractive to clubs looking for flexibility in their forward line.
For Barcelona, however, a transfer of this magnitude would inevitably have to be considered alongside the club’s wider financial planning.
Rather than paying the entire €100 million immediately, spreading the cost over three seasons would allow Barcelona to manage the transfer within a longer financial timeframe. Deferred payments are also common in major football transfers, with clubs frequently negotiating instalment-based agreements.
Deco’s comments appear intended to emphasize that Barcelona’s proposal was not simply an attempt to reduce the value of the deal. Instead, the club was prepared to meet a €100 million valuation while negotiating how that amount would be paid.
Deco Addresses Mateu Alemany Situation
The Barcelona sporting director also addressed another issue surrounding the Álvarez saga: his relationship with former Barça sporting director Mateu Alemany.
Alemany is now working at Atlético Madrid, meaning he has been involved on the opposite side of the negotiating table in discussions involving the Spanish club.
That situation naturally created speculation about whether there was tension between the two men, particularly given Alemany’s previous role at Barcelona and Deco’s current position.
However, Deco strongly rejected suggestions of a personal dispute.
“I have no problem with Mateu Alemany; I haven’t done anything to him,” he told RAC1.
The comments appear designed to distance the transfer negotiations from any personal rivalry. Deco’s message is that Barcelona’s dealings with Atlético should be viewed as a sporting and financial matter rather than the result of a disagreement between two former colleagues.
What the Comments Mean for Julián Álvarez
The revelation regarding the payment structure also highlights just how seriously Barcelona considered a move for Álvarez.
A €100 million commitment represents a major investment, particularly for a club that has had to carefully manage its finances in recent years. Agreeing to pay the amount over three seasons would have given Barça greater flexibility while still allowing Atlético to receive the full value of the transfer.
The comments also demonstrate the importance of negotiations in modern football. The headline transfer fee is often only one part of an agreement. Payment schedules, bonuses, instalments and other contractual conditions can have a major impact on whether a deal ultimately becomes possible.
In Álvarez’s case, Barcelona were apparently willing to go as high as €100 million, but the structure and timing of the payments remained important elements of the negotiations.
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid Relationship
The situation also illustrates the increasingly complex relationship between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the transfer market.
Both clubs have competed for high-profile players and have been involved in significant transfer negotiations in recent years. The presence of Alemany at Atlético adds another layer of interest because of his previous responsibilities at Camp Nou.
Deco’s decision to publicly dismiss any personal issue with Alemany could therefore be viewed as an attempt to prevent unnecessary controversy from overshadowing the footballing aspects of the situation.
Ultimately, the most important revelation from Deco’s comments is that Barcelona were prepared to commit €100 million for Julián Álvarez, with the proposed payment spread across three seasons.
Whether that structure would have been enough to satisfy Atlético is another question, but Deco’s comments provide a clearer picture of Barça’s intentions.
For now, the Álvarez saga remains a reminder that major transfers are rarely as straightforward as the headline figures suggest. Behind a €100 million deal are lengthy negotiations over payment schedules, financial planning and relationships between the clubs involved.
Deco’s latest comments have added another important piece to that story while making it clear that, from Barcelona’s perspective, the proposed investment in Julián Álvarez was very real — and that any disagreement with Atlético should not be interpreted as a personal conflict with Mateu Alemany.