Spanish football giants Barcelona have been fined €602 by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following a complaint from Atlético Madrid over their approach for Argentine striker Julián Álvarez during the summer transfer window.
The sanction was imposed on Tuesday after Atlético accused Barcelona of contacting the 26-year-old forward without first formally notifying his parent club in writing, as required under Spanish football regulations.
The disciplinary decision was issued under Article 133 of the federation’s regulations, which covers minor breaches of regulatory obligations.
The fine, equivalent to approximately £503, is considered relatively small compared with the financial value of modern football transfers.
Atlético Madrid had lodged complaints with both the Spanish football authorities and FIFA, alleging that Barcelona pursued negotiations with Álvarez without following the appropriate procedures.
However, FIFA declined to intervene, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction over the dispute between the two Spanish clubs.
The Spanish federation subsequently examined the complaint and imposed the financial penalty.
Barcelona reportedly dispute the allegation that they failed to follow the proper procedures and intends to challenge the decision.
The controversy began during the summer transfer window when Álvarez publicly expressed his desire to fulfil his ambition of playing for Barcelona.
His comments generated tension with Atlético Madrid supporters, particularly as the club remained determined to retain one of its most important attacking players.
Despite Barcelona’s interest, no transfer agreement was reached, and Álvarez remained at Atlético, where his contract runs until June 2030.
The former Manchester City forward has since attempted to rebuild his relationship with the club’s supporters.
Following Atlético’s recent victory over Deportivo La Coruña, in which he scored the winning goal, Álvarez apologised for his earlier comments about leaving the club.
He acknowledged that supporters had reasons to be disappointed with his public statements and expressed appreciation for their backing since his arrival.
Sections of Atlético’s supporters responded positively, giving the Argentine a standing ovation after his decisive performance.
Álvarez joined Atlético Madrid from Manchester City in August 2024 and remains an important member of Diego Simeone’s squad.
Although the financial sanction is modest, the case highlights the requirement for clubs to respect established procedures when approaching players under contract with rival teams.
The reported intention to appeal means the disciplinary dispute may not yet be fully concluded.
