Barcelona faces striker setback as Kroupi suffers lengthy injury

By Ama Serwah — 29 July 2026 — 4 min read

Barcelona’s Striker Search Hits Snag

Barcelona is currently facing challenges in its pursuit of a new striker during the ongoing summer transfer window. The club had initially sought to replace Robert Lewandowski, who departed Barcelona at the end of last season. Their initial interest reportedly focused on Julian Alvarez, an Atletico Madrid forward.

However, Atletico Madrid has indicated an unwillingness to part with Alvarez. This stance led Barcelona to explore other options, with their attention turning to Eli Junior Kroupi, a French forward from Bournemouth.

Kroupi’s Injury Complicates Transfer Plans

The situation for Barcelona regarding Kroupi became complicated when Bournemouth reportedly declined to release the player. A more significant setback then occurred: Kroupi sustained a foot injury during pre-season training in Austria. He subsequently returned to England for medical examinations.

These examinations revealed that the 20-year-old striker required surgery. He has since undergone the procedure, which confirms he will be absent from play for a period estimated to be between three and four months. This means Kroupi is not expected to return to training until October or November of this year, causing him to miss a substantial part of the season. This lengthy recovery period is also likely to complicate any potential move to a new club.

Kroupi had previously demonstrated strong performances for Bournemouth after joining from Lorient last summer. He featured in 35 matches and scored 13 goals. These contributions were instrumental in helping Bournemouth secure qualification for the Europa League, as the team finished sixth in the Premier League under then-coach Andoni Iraola. Marco Rose has since taken over as coach after Iraola moved to Liverpool.

Uncertainty Surrounds Julian Alvarez’s Future

Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Julian Alvarez remains unresolved as the new La Liga season approaches. Alvarez had previously expressed a desire for a transfer, stating during the World Cup that a move would be beneficial for all parties involved. However, Atletico Madrid has not agreed with this sentiment, while Barcelona continues to hope for a change in their stance.

Reports suggest Alvarez has several options to navigate his current situation. These include attempting to mend his relationship with Atletico, taking further steps to facilitate a move to Barcelona, or agreeing with Atletico to seek a strong offer from a club outside of Spain to secure his departure. Atletico CEO Gil Marin has indicated a willingness to reconcile, stating his belief that Atletico is the right place for Alvarez and that Alvarez is the ideal striker for the club.

Despite these efforts, it is unclear if Alvarez is willing to remain at Atletico or if he would consider a move to any club other than Barcelona. Barcelona is reportedly hoping that Alvarez will make another public gesture to encourage Atletico to enter negotiations. The Catalan club is also reportedly considering alternative targets should a deal for Alvarez not materialize. Barcelona is prepared to exhaust all avenues to sign Alvarez, though they are not expected to exceed their reported offer of €100 million.

Alvarez, who has been on holiday since losing the World Cup final to Spain, is reportedly concerned by Atletico’s refusal to negotiate with Barcelona. Barcelona is aware of his growing dissatisfaction and hopes he will make a move before August 10th, the date he is scheduled to rejoin Diego Simeone’s training sessions. Alvarez maintains that Miguel Angel Gil Marin had promised him in February that he would be allowed to leave, a claim that the Atletico CEO has reportedly denied in discussions with Joan Laporta. Alvarez’s contract runs until 2030 and includes a €500 million release clause.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty in their striker search, there is reportedly no panic within the Barcelona camp. Coach Hansi Flick is said to be satisfied with the signings of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, who are expected to enhance the team’s pressing intensity and goal-scoring capabilities. While Flick would still welcome a recognized center-forward, he believes such an arrival should significantly elevate the team’s standard. With players like Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Raphinha capable of playing through the middle, Barcelona feels reasonably well-covered in attack for the time being. Alvarez remains a primary target, and Barcelona will continue to push for a breakthrough in the coming weeks.