Alvarez addresses Barcelona interest

Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez has played down interest from Barcelona, maintaining that his focus remained solely on his performance for his current employers. 

The Blaugrana are interested in the 25-year-old who joined their rivals two summers ago. The interest is reportedly steered by the club's president, Joan Laporta, who is a fan of the Argentine and is keen on bringing him to the Camp Nou.

In a recent interview with Marca, the former River Plate striker was asked about the interest from Barcelona and how it has affected him. 

He explained, saying, "I am very calm. I always say that one has to be calm and do things well on the pitch. But it doesn't bother me; things are always said, and in there are always rumours. I try to stay focused on what I have to do, which is to play and help the team."

"I think that nowadays we're in a position to compete with anyone, and as I was saying before, the club has been growing a lot. 

"In this last transfer window, we've brought in many high-calibre, high-quality players, and I think that, looking ahead, the club still has room for improvement."

Meanwhile, Barcelona's finances make the Alvarez pursuit difficult to accomplish. They have also identified the likes of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen as possible candidates.