Barcelona's private contact with Alvarez sparks controversy; the Spanish Football Federation fines them.

Barcelona has been formally complained against by Atletico Madrid for contacting striker Julian Álvarez without prior written notice.

The Spanish Football Federation subsequently ruled in favor of Barcelona, imposing a symbolic fine of €602 (approximately £503). Atletico Madrid had previously appealed to FIFA on this matter, but FIFA ruled that it had no jurisdiction over such domestic transfer disputes and refused to accept the appeal.

The 26-year-old Alvarez ultimately chose to stay with the team, and his current contract expires in June 2030. Having publicly expressed his desire to play for Barcelona this summer, Alvarez was repeatedly booed by Atlético Madrid's home fans this season.

In last Saturday's La Liga match against Deportivo La Coruña, Alvarez scored the winning goal, helping manager Diego Simeone's team narrow the gap with league leaders Barcelona to two points, and earning a standing ovation from some of the spectators.

After the match, Alvarez apologized to Atlético Madrid fans, admitting that his comments in the summer were a mistake. He said he fully understood the fans' anger, and that he would have been angry too if he were in their shoes, especially considering the support they had given him since he joined the team.

Alvarez will join Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in August 2024 for a fee that could reach £81.5 million. After ending his career with Manchester City in 103 appearances and 36 goals, he has now made 115 appearances for Atletico Madrid and scored 51 goals, remaining a key striker for the team.

Image source: Internet