Atletico eye Greenwood as Alvarez fallback amid Barcelona chase

Atletico Madrid have placed former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood on their shortlist as a possible replacement for Julian Alvarez, whose future is under speculation after Barcelona’s renewed interest, with the Spanish club preparing for every scenario by the end of the season.

Barcelona view Alvarez as their preferred option to lead the attack in the post‑Robert Lewandowski era, and the Argentine striker has already expressed a desire to seek a new challenge. Atletico have consistently maintained they will not sell Alvarez this summer, but the club acknowledges the need to prepare for a possible departure. The emergence of Greenwood on their shortlist therefore provides a contingency plan should Alvarez ultimately move to Barcelona.

Diego Simeone is believed to be a strong supporter of Greenwood’s profile, with the Olympique Marseille attacker viewed more as a central attacking option than a winger. His interest is heightened after the departures of Antoine Griezmann and Nico Gonzalez, which have left Atletico with fewer attacking alternatives.

Mateu Alemany reportedly gathered detailed information on a potential Greenwood deal back in May. Manchester United still retain 40 % of Greenwood’s rights, meaning any transfer would involve negotiations with the English club.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has openly admitted that an offer for Alvarez was made, but Atletico rejected it because they lacked suitable replacements. He added that if a viable alternative such as Greenwood were secured, Barcelona would be ready to proceed with their pursuit.

Securing Greenwood would give Atletico leverage to negotiate Alvarez’s sale while ensuring their attacking line remains competitive. For Barcelona, identifying a ready-made replacement removes a major obstacle and could accelerate their plan to rebuild the front line after Lewandowski.