The Royal Spanish Football Federation has fined FC Barcelona 602 euros following a formal complaint from Atlético Madrid over negotiations with striker Julián Álvarez, Eurosport reported.

Atlético Madrid Files Complaint Over Unauthorized Talks

Atlético Madrid lodged a complaint with the Royal Spanish Football Federation during the summer transfer window. Álvarez was tied to Atlético under a contract running until June 2030, which included a 500 million euro release clause reported by Yahoo Actualités.

Under Spanish federation rules, specifically Article 133, a club must inform a player’s current club in writing before initiating any formal discussions regarding a transfer. Sudinfo noted that the disciplinary measure addresses the failure to follow regulatory instructions, carrying penalties ranging from monetary fines to short-term suspensions.

Barcelona Contests Fine over Antoine Griezmann Pursuit

Despite the nominal penalty, Barcelona has chosen to contest the ruling. Marca reported that club officials view the 602-euro fine as risible given the club’s financial scale, yet management refuses to pay on principle. Le club catalan affirme que son approche de l’attaquant a suivi des canaux réguliers et que l’Atlético avait reçu un avis direct de son intérêt.

In 2019, Atlético Madrid filed a complaint with the federation over Barcelona’s pursuit of Antoine Griezmann, which concluded with a settlement involving a 300-euro payment.

Julián Álvarez Apologizes to Supporters After On-Field Reception

Julián Álvarez addressed the club’s supporters following a hostile reception at the Metropolitano earlier in the season. After scoring his second goal in two matches during a victory against Deportivo La Coruña on a Saturday in October, the forward acknowledged the friction caused by the summer transfer speculation.

“It was a mistake,” Álvarez said after the match, as reported by Eurosport. “I understand why the fans are in colère, I would have been in colère aussi. Especially if you consider how much they have supported me since I arrived.” The player subsequently received an ovation from the home crowd following his goal.