Barcelona Fined €602 Over Julian Alvarez Contact Complaint by Atletico Madrid
Barcelona has been hit with a fine of 602 euros (£503) following a complaint from Atletico Madrid regarding unauthorized contact with striker Julian Alvarez. Atletico Madrid accused their La Liga rivals of reaching out to the Argentina international without giving prior written notice to the club.
The 26-year-old Alvarez chose to remain with Atletico Madrid, where he is under contract until June 2030. The fine, issued by the Spanish football association, stems from Atletico’s grievance. Although Atletico also escalated the matter to FIFA, the governing body stated it had no jurisdiction over the situation.
Alvarez has faced criticism from his own supporters this season, but he received a standing ovation after scoring the decisive goal in a match against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. Following the victory, which brought Diego Simeone’s side within two points of leaders Barcelona, he took a moment to apologize to the fans.
In a reflection on an interview he gave during the summer, where he expressed a desire to “fulfil his dream” of playing for Barcelona, Alvarez admitted, “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.”
Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in August 2024, signing a six-year deal for a fee that could rise to £81.5 million. He has impressed during his time at Atletico, netting 51 goals in 115 appearances, following a successful spell at City where he scored 36 goals in 103 matches.
