Barcelona have been fined €602 (£503) by the Spanish FA after Atletico Madrid complained that the club contacted Julian Alvarez without first notifying them in writing.

The sanction was imposed on Tuesday under Article 133 of the federation’s regulations. Atletico Madrid also referred the matter to FIFA, but football’s world governing body said it did not have jurisdiction over the case.

Alvarez’s contract with Atletico Madrid runs until June 2030. Barcelona’s interest in the Argentina striker became public during an unsettled summer transfer dispute after he said he “wanted to fulfil his dream” of playing for the Catalan club.

The forward has since faced regular criticism from Atletico Madrid supporters. However, he scored the winning goal against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, finding the net for a second consecutive match as Atletico moved to within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

After the game, Alvarez apologised for comments he made during an interview at the 2026 World Cup.

“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,” he said.

His goal at the Metropolitano prompted a standing ovation from some sections of the home crowd, suggesting the relationship between the striker and Atletico Madrid fans may be beginning to improve.

The transfer dispute had continued through the summer window, with Alvarez’s comments about Barcelona contributing to tensions at his current club. The Spanish FA’s decision relates specifically to the complaint over Barcelona’s approach, while FIFA declined to become involved.