Barcelona pursues Julian Álvarez while signing NBA veteran Stanley Umude

FC Barcelona’s football side has confirmed that its top priority this summer remains Argentine forward Julián Álvarez. The club has tabled an offer of around €100 million and, while refusing to raise the fee, is prepared to add variables after the World Cup to make the deal more attractive. Arsenal is also reported to be interested, but Barcelona aims to secure the player without strengthening a direct rival.

Separately, Barcelona’s basketball team has activated a route for U.S. forward Stanley Umude, a former NBA player with a Nigerian passport. Umude, 27, who last played in the G‑League after stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, is expected to join the club as a rotation wing, bringing size and outside shooting to the roster.

Both moves illustrate Barcelona’s broader strategy of reinforcing its squads across sports while managing financial constraints.