Barcelona have been ordered to pay a fine of 602 euros (£503) by the Spanish football association following a formal complaint submitted by Atletico Madrid regarding an approach for Julian Alvarez. The capital club accused their La Liga rivals of establishing contact with the 26-year-old Argentina international forward without first providing written notification.
In addition to raising the matter domestically, Atletico also escalated their complaint to Fifa, though football's global governing body determined that it had no jurisdiction over the incident. Alvarez ultimately remained with Atletico Madrid, where he is under a long-term contract running until June 2030.
The controversy surrounding the potential move had sparked friction between Alvarez and the club's fanbase, resulting in the striker being frequently booed by his own supporters throughout the season. However, he earned a standing ovation from some fans on Saturday after scoring the winning goal against Deportivo La Coruna. Following the match, Alvarez issued an apology for a summer interview in which he stated he wanted to "fulfil his dream" of playing for Barcelona, admitting: "It was a mistake. I understand why the fans are angry. If I were a fan, I'd be angry too. Especially given how they've supported me since I arrived."
The crucial weekend triumph leaves Diego Simeone's team sitting just two points adrift of league leaders Barcelona. Alvarez originally joined Atletico from Manchester City in August 2024 on a six-year deal worth up to £81.5m, having tallied 36 goals in 103 matches for the English side before scoring 51 goals in 115 appearances for his current club.