Flick sends personal WhatsApp to Álvarez urging patience as Barcelona target Atlético striker

Hansi Flick has reportedly made personal contact with Julián Álvarez during the World Cup, messaging the Atlético Madrid forward via WhatsApp to reassure him that Barcelona will push as hard as possible to complete his signing this summer, according to Barca Blaugranes, citing Marca journalist Pedro Morata.

“Trust in us. We’re going to be there fighting for your signing as far as we can,” Flick is said to have written to Álvarez, per Morata’s account. The message urged the Argentina international to be patient and promised the club would do everything within their means to bring him to Camp Nou.

The detail carries weight beyond its content. That Flick has intervened personally suggests the manager sees Álvarez as central to his tactical plans — the primary source describes the Argentine as Barcelona’s top transfer target following the departure of Robert Lewandowski.

Atlético Madrid have made their stance clear: they do not want to sell Álvarez, and they have no appetite for doing business with a direct La Liga rival. That resistance has done little to discourage Barcelona, though separate reports have raised questions about the manner of the club’s contact with Álvarez’s camp.

Álvarez has not been shy about his own position. He went public with his desire to leave Atlético during the tournament and is understood to prefer Barcelona over other clubs monitoring his situation. Flick’s direct approach is a logical step in keeping the target engaged without a formal bid yet being in place.

Álvarez is currently preparing for Argentina’s World Cup semi-final against Switzerland in Kansas on Sunday. Barcelona are reportedly set to make a fresh offer for the striker once the tournament concludes. How Atlético respond to that renewed approach — and whether Álvarez ultimately formalises a transfer request — will determine whether the Blaugrana’s persistence translates into the deal Flick is personally lobbying for.