Barcelona has been fined €602 by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). This follows a complaint from Atlético Madrid about how Barcelona showed interest in striker Julián Álvarez.
Fabrizio Romano reported on X on Wednesday that the fine was confirmed on Tuesday. The sanction is based on Article 133 of the RFEF’s rules for not following orders or agreements.
This is seen as a minor issue. Spanish rules say any club that wants to negotiate with a player under contract must first inform that player's current club in writing.
Atlético Madrid claimed Barcelona spoke to the Argentina international without meeting that requirement.
Álvarez, 26, is under contract with Atlético until June 2030. He joined from Manchester City in 2024.
Barcelona's interest in him grew during the summer transfer window. This was partly due to Álvarez’s public wish to play for Barcelona, which he has dreamed of for a long time.
Despite the interest, no deal happened, and Álvarez remained in Madrid.
Atlético also filed a complaint with FIFA. FIFA said it could not handle disputes between two Spanish clubs and left the case with the RFEF.
The federation opened a special disciplinary case in late July. They have now resolved it with the highest fine they could give for a minor violation.
Many see this fine as symbolic and “irrisoria.” It is similar to a 2019 case where Atlético complained about Barcelona’s move for Antoine Griezmann, which led to a fine of just €300.
Barcelona plans to appeal the decision. Club sources and reports from outlets like Marca and El Chiringuito say they are challenging it on principle, not because of the small amount.
Barcelona insists they properly informed Atlético about their interest and acted correctly during the process.
Meanwhile, Álvarez is trying to mend his relationship with Atlético fans. He has faced some boos this season but scored the winning goal in Saturday's match against Deportivo La Coruña. After the game, he apologized for how and when he expressed his wish to leave.
The fine puts an end to a tense situation between these two La Liga rivals, but Barcelona's appeal means the issue isn't completely over.
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