Barcelona have received a fine of 602 euros, equivalent to £503, following a complaint lodged by Atletico Madrid regarding improper contact made with forward Julian Alvarez.
Complaint and Ruling
Atletico accused their La Liga rivals of approaching the Argentina international without providing prior written notification. The Spanish football association ultimately issued the financial penalty. Atletico also raised the matter with FIFA, but world football’s governing body stated it lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the dispute.
The 26-year-old forward stayed at Atletico and remains tied to the club through a contract that extends until June 2030. Alvarez originally transferred to Atletico from Manchester City in August 2024 on a six-year agreement valued at up to £81.5m. Throughout his career, he netted 36 goals in 103 appearances for City and has scored 51 times across 115 matches for Atletico.
Player Apology and Recent Form
Alvarez faced repeated jeers from his own supporters during the current campaign. However, he earned a standing ovation from sections of the crowd after netting the decisive winning goal in a fixture against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
That triumph moved Diego Simeone’s squad within two points of league leaders Barcelona, prompting Alvarez to address the supporters and issue an apology.
Discussing comments made in a summer interview where he expressed a desire to fulfil his ambition of representing Barcelona, Alvarez stated, “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.”
