Long-time followers of summer transfer sagas involving Barcelona may have recognised a familiar pattern when Atletico Madrid and Julian Alvarez stopped to speak to journalists in the mixed zone after helping Argentina beat Austria 2-0 at the World Cup on Monday.A serious, shy character, Alvarez is not really comfortable in front of the microphones. But when asked if he now wanted to leave Atletico for Barcelona, the 26-year-old clearly decided the time was right to send a public message.“I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about this, but I can’t hide or pretend, either — I try to be an honest person,” Alvarez told ESPN. “I’ve spoken honestly to the people at the club (Atletico). I believe a transfer is the best thing for everyone. I want to fulfil my dream.”Those comments will have been warmly welcomed back in Europe by Barcelona’s hierarchy, who will consider his words public confirmation that a player hugely admired by club president Joan Laporta wants to join them.The reaction was very different at Atletico, where sources familiar with the situation, granted anonymity like others consulted for this article to protect relationships, have told The Athletic there was huge anger. That was largely directed at Barcelona, who were perceived to have pressured the player into speaking publicly to try to force a situation which favours the Camp Nou outfit.There will not have been huge surprise at the Metropolitano, however, given Alvarez and his camp have — at different times over the last 12 months — fed the speculation that he would move to Barcelona this summer.Julian Alvarez speaks to the media after Argentina’s victory over Austria (Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Alvarez’s last big mixed zone appearance came after Atletico’s 5-2 first-leg win over Tottenham in the last-16 of the Champions League back in March. Asked then about the possibility that he could move to Barca for next season, he replied: “I couldn’t tell you. Maybe yes, maybe no. You never know.”Last summer, Alvarez’s long-time agent Fernando Hidalgo told Spanish outlet El Chiringuito that his client had grown up a Barca fan due to his current Argentina team-mate Lionel Messi, and openly speculated about him ending up at Camp Nou in future.That was followed by Barca players, including Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and Frenkie De Jong, publicly saying in interviews over the past year that Alvarez is a player their club should look at signing.If this all feels very familiar, then that is because it is. There are definite similarities to previous summer transfer sagas involving Barcelona which have dominated headlines before or during big international tournaments.Ahead of the 2018 World Cup, there were months of fevered speculation that then Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann was set to join Barca. Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barca’s president at the time, confirmed publicly he had spoken to Griezmann’s camp, leading Atletico to say they would complain to FIFA about an illegal approach for a player under contract at their club. The former France international eventually used a documentary to announce his “decision” to stay at Atletico that summer, only to move to Barca 12 months later. (He never fully settled at the Camp Nou and eventually returned to the Metropolitano, initially on loan, in 2021.)Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann ended up staying another year (Oscar del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)Two summers ago, Barcelona’s pursuit of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams also became public knowledge. Spain team-mates during Euro 2024 in Germany, including Lamine Yamal, publicly urged Williams to move to Camp Nou. Athletic president Jon Uriarte responded by calling a press conference to angrily denounce such behaviour.Williams found that situation uncomfortable, and decided in the end he could not leave Bilbao that summer. But, 12 months later, Barca came knocking again, seeking to sign him — a move the winger considered before eventually deciding to stay at Athletic. A major part of his thinking was a concern over whether the Catalan club’s long-running financial issues would make it difficult for them to register him under La Liga’s salary limit.Barca’s financial situation has improved since then, and the club’s executives are confident they can move with more freedom in this summer’s market.Yet, the Catalan club remains over its permitted La Liga salary limit. Plus, they have already signed Anthony Gordon, who joined ahead of the World Cup from Newcastle for €80million (£69m; $91.1m). As things stand, the England international cannot be registered for the 2026-27 club season.Under current president Laporta, Barca have regularly found ways to get around this situation — including the famous ‘financial levers’ and various other creative ways to register signings. This included bringing in midfielder Dani Olmo in 2024, and goalkeeper Joan Garcia last year, despite the club being over their permitted salary limit through this time.A positive for Barca’s 2026-27 finances will be veteran forward Robert Lewandowski, one of the club’s biggest earners last season, leaving when his contract expires on June 30. Returning to play at their Camp Nou stadium last autumn, after 18 months playing at Montjuic during reconstruction work, has also been a boost to the club’s revenues.A further potential factor is renewed speculation over the future of Raphinha. Some at Barca have previously been open to raising money by selling the Brazil international, especially if a big offer were to arrive for a player who will turn 30 in December and suffered another injury setback at the World Cup last weekend.Could Raphinha be sold? (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Yet there are other twists in the Alvarez story, not least that Real Madrid claimed to have made an unexpected — and unwelcome, according to Atletico — €150million bid for his services just a few weeks ago. Atletico did not believe this was a serious attempt to sign the player, and reacted with more angry and scornful social media posts.Atletico were also publicly upset when sources at Barcelona claimed to have sent a €100million offer to Atletico for Alvarez in late May. The Metropolitano club replied with a series of fake transfer rumour posts on social media — including pretending to offer Bad Bunny tickets in exchange for Barca’s teenage superstar Yamal.Alvarez going public at the World Cup in Dallas on Monday has made the situation even more intriguing. Neither Griezmann nor Williams went so far as to openly call for a move during their different sagas back at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2024.Publicly pleading for a move away makes it more difficult for Alvarez if he does not end up moving this summer. Atletico coach Diego Simeone has said publicly that the player has the right to make decisions over his own future, but the Metropolitano fans are unlikely to be so understanding.The Atletico Madrid supporters may not forgive Julian Alvarez his desire to join Barcelona (Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)There remains the option of another club swooping in to take advantage of the situation. Simeone himself pondered this possibility when speaking ahead of Atletico’s meeting with Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals last season, saying it was “normal that teams like Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona would want a player like him”.Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is an admirer, but it is unclear whether the Premier League champions would meet Atletico’s valuation of the player. There is also no indication that Champions League holders PSG are seriously interested in moving for the Argentine, at present at least.All this may feed confidence at Camp Nou that the situation is favourable for Barca, and that sooner or later this summer they will be able to sign Alvarez.Conversely, Atletico may also feel they are in a good position: Alvarez remains under contract with them until 2030, and sources at the Metropolitano have indicated that deal contains a €500million release clause which gives them a strong position in any negotiations.Meanwhile, this summer’s transfer window has only just opened, and does not shut until September 1.With so many different factors and considerations involved, this year’s big tournament transfer saga looks to have plenty of twists and turns still.