Atletico striker scores after Barcelona fine
The Spanish FA fined Barcelona 602 euros for contacting Julian Alvarez, who scored and apologized to fans.
By Mei Melnyk ·
Julian Alvarez scored the winning goal for Atletico Madrid on Saturday, a moment that marked a shift in his relationship with the home crowd.
The dispute began when Barcelona contacted the Argentine striker without first sending written notice to his club, as required by regulations. Atletico Madrid filed a complaint with the Spanish FA and also appealed to FIFA, which ruled it had no jurisdiction. The federation subsequently fined Barcelona 602 euros, roughly 670 US dollars, under Article 133 of its rules. This sanction followed a transfer dispute that persisted through the summer window after Alvarez stated in an interview during the 2026 World Cup that he wanted to fulfill his dream of playing for Barcelona.
Atletico had accused Barcelona of bypassing proper protocol in their approach to Alvarez, whose contract with the club runs until June 2030. The club sought clarity on the nature of the contact, leading to the formal sanction. The fine, while modest, resolved the administrative conflict between the two clubs.
On the pitch, Alvarez found the net for the second consecutive match against Deportivo La Coruna. His goal secured a victory that moved Atletico within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona. After the match, the striker addressed the tension directly. “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,” Alvarez said. He noted that he had joined from Manchester City in 2024 in a deal worth up to 95 million euros. Since then, he has registered 51 goals in 115 games for Atletico, following 36 goals in 103 appearances at Man City. Sections of the Metropolitano crowd gave him a standing ovation after the goal, a change from the frequent boos he has received earlier this season.
The next scheduled fixture for Atletico Madrid has not been detailed in the available reporting, but the team continues its campaign in La Liga with a momentum shift following the recent results.
Source: Al Jazeera
