Barcelona Reportedly Shortlists Manchester United Forward Benjamin Sesko as Alvarez Alternative

Overview

• Reports published on Sunday say Marca has placed Benjamin Sesko on a shortlist of alternatives Barcelona would consider if they cannot sign Julian Álvárez.
• Manchester United signed Sesko from RB Leipzig last summer for a package reported up to £74 million and he revived his form in the second half of the 2025/26 season.
• United are widely reported to be reluctant to sell Sesko, a stance reinforced by manager Michael Carrick's backing and the club's view of him as a long‑term asset.
• Barcelona's push for Álvarez has stalled after Atletico rejected very large offers, which has led the club to identify cheaper or more available targets such as Sesko, Serhou Guirassy and Karl Etta Eyong.
• The situation complicates relations between the clubs because Barcelona also declined to trigger Marcus Rashford's £26m buy option, and Sesko's recent fitness and medical disputes with Slovenia add uncertainty for any transfer talks.