Barcelona Fined €602 Over Alvarez Approach

Barcelona was hit with a €602 fine for simply talking to Atlético's star striker. The Spanish football federation imposed the sanction after Atlético complained the club approached Julián Álvarez without written notice. The penalty falls under Article 133 of the federation's regulations and FIFA said it had no jurisdiction. Álvarez, whose contract runs to June 2030, scored the winner against Deportivo La Coruña on Saturday. That goal moved Atlético within two points of the league leaders. He later apologized, saying his dream of playing for Barcelona was a mistake and he understood the fans' anger. Álvarez joined Atlético from Manchester City in August 2024 for up to £81.5 million. He has scored 51 goals in 115 appearances for the Spanish club. The fine, roughly five hundred pounds, underscores how seriously La Liga polices unauthorized approaches. As Álvarez put it, "If I were a fan, I'd be angry too."