• Atlético accused Barcelona during summer chase

• Striker now rebuilding his reputation with fans

Barcelona’s pursuit of Julián Álvarez came at a modest cost ⁠on Tuesday after the Spanish FA fined the club €602 (£503) following a complaint by Atlético Madrid over contact ⁠with ​the striker.

Atlético accused Barcelona of approaching the Argentine, whose contract runs until June 2030, ⁠without first notifying them in writing.

The sanction falls under Article 133 of the federation’s regulations. Atlético ⁠also complained to Fifa, which declared it had no ​jurisdiction over the case.

For ‌Álvarez, the repair ‌work has been rather more public.

The striker scored Atlético’s ‌winner against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, finding the net for a second successive match as his side moved within two points of the La Liga leaders Barcelona, before apologising for expressing his desire to join their rivals.

“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,” Álvarez said referring to an interview during the 2026 World Cup in which he said that ⁠he “wanted to fulfil his dream” of playing for ​Barcelona, triggering ​a transfer dispute that ​stretched through the summer transfer window.

Frequently booed by ​the home ‌fans this ​season, Álvarez ​received a standing ovation from sections of the crowd after scoring on Saturday, a sign of a thawing relationship with the Metropolitano faithful.