Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Julián Álvarez and Spanish Football Federation
27 October 2026
Barcelona have been fined €602 following Atlético Madrid’s complaint that the Catalan club approached striker Julián Álvarez without first notifying his employers in writing. The Argentine forward remained at Atlético despite expressing an interest in joining Barcelona during the summer.
Atlético filed a complaint with the Spanish Football Federation over Barcelona’s contact with the player, who remains under contract until June 2030. The federation imposed a financial penalty, while FIFA separately ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over Atlético’s complaint. Álvarez recently apologised to Atlético supporters for publicly discussing his desire to join Barcelona.
Why It Matters
The ruling reinforces the requirement for clubs to notify contracted players' employers before making approaches.