In the midst of the battle to make the final list for the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine forward is wanted in Europe, but Palmeiras will not let him leave so easily
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José Manuel López is experiencing a dream start to 2026 at Palmeiras and his name has once again strongly entered the international radar. His recent numbers not only bring him closer to the Argentina national team in the run-up to the World Cup, but they have also sparked the interest of a major European club: Atlético de Madrid.
The team coached by Diego Simeone is looking to strengthen its attacking line in light of the goal drought that Julián Álvarez is going through. In that context, sporting director Mateu Alemany anticipated that it will be "a market of adjustments" and the Brazilian press has placed the former Lanús player as one of Colchonero's priorities.
El Atlético Madrid estaría interesado en el Flaco López
Despite some recent tensions with Abel Ferreira, who before the 2025 Copa Libertadores final went so far as to question his performance and even hinted at leaving him out of the team, López has established himself as a key piece in Verdao's structure. That's why, in São Paulo, people are not willing to part easily with their top scorer.
According to ESPN Brasil, president Leila Pereira has already taken a clear stance: Palmeiras will only sit down to negotiate if an offer close to 40 million euros appears, an amount that sets the floor for analyzing his departure.
El Flaco quiere meterse en la lista final para el Mundial 2026
A potential move to Atlético would represent a decisive leap in the forward's career, as he could share a squad with his compatriots Nicolás González, Giulano Simeone, Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada, and Álvarez himself. In addition, he would arrive at a key moment, since Lionel Scaloni has included him in the last two drafts for the Albiceleste, a clear sign that his present form has not gone unnoticed on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
Flaco López's numbers at Palmeiras
Since his arrival in mid-2022, the former Lanús player has played almost 10,000 minutes for Verdao, spread over 184 matches, in which he has scored 60 goals and provided 18 assists. In terms of titles, the forward has been crowned on 5 occasions: 2 Brasileiraos (2022 and 2023), 1 Supercopa do Brasil (2023), and 2 Campeonato Paulistas (2023 and 2024). In addition, he won the top scorer award in two tournaments: 2025 Copa Libertadores (7 goals) and 2024 Campeonato Paulista (10 goals).
