Barcelona fined over Alvarez approach

Barcelona faced a €602 ($672) fine from the Spanish FA on Tuesday, following a complaint by Atletico Madrid over contact with striker Julian Alvarez. The Atletico club alleged that Barcelona approached the Argentine without first notifying them in writing, in breach of Article 133 of the federation's regulations. Atletico also lodged a complaint with FIFA, which stated it had no jurisdiction over the matter.

Meanwhile, Alvarez's situation with his current club has been a subject of public scrutiny. The striker scored Atletico's winning goal against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, securing a second consecutive victory and putting his team within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona. However, Alvarez apologized for expressing his desire to join the rival club, citing his comments during the 2026 World Cup as the cause of a transfer dispute that had been ongoing throughout the summer transfer window.

Despite being frequently booed by Barcelona fans this season, Alvarez received a standing ovation from some sections of the crowd after scoring a goal in the match, indicating a shift in public sentiment towards him.