Why Barcelona have cooled interest in Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic

Barcelona’s pursuit of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has hit a sudden freeze, with the Catalan club quietly stepping back from negotiations that once looked likely to culminate in a summer switch to Camp Nou. According to a report in Diario Sport, the 26-year-old Serbian forward is “not a priority” for the La Liga giants and “contacts have been frozen for weeks” as sporting staff reassess their attacking blueprint.

Vlahovic, who has been linked to Barcelona throughout the current campaign, is understood to be open to the move, but the feeling inside the club is that he no longer fits the profile desired for a new No. 9. The initial interest arose under former coach Xavi Hernández, an avowed admirer of the centre-forward, yet the hierarchy now believe Vlahovic lacks the positional versatility considered essential for the front line. Barca’s recruitment team are prioritising a multi-functional attacker capable of operating across all three forward roles rather than a traditional penalty-box finisher.

The report goes as far as stating that, barring an unexpected late twist, “Vlahovic will not wear the Blaugrana shirt.” The only scenario in which Barcelona could revisit the deal is if the club fails to regain La Liga’s 1:1 spending rule approval before the next transfer window, a situation that would force officials to explore more economically viable options.

While Vlahovic’s reputation as a prolific goalscorer remains intact, the technical staff have set their sights on profiles that blend scoring output with tactical flexibility. Atlético Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is described as the “dream” target, and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush is also back on the radar after impressing in the Bundesliga. For now, Juventus’ frontman appears set to remain in Turin as Barcelona reshuffle their striking shortlist ahead of a pivotal summer rebuild.