Atletico Madrid has formally complained to FIFA accusing Barcelona of illicitly approaching their striker Julian Alvarez. The Catalan club reportedly made contact with the 26-year-old Argentina international, prompting Atletico to allege a breach of transfer regulations.
Alvarez, who joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024 for a fee up to 85 million euros, expressed during the 2026 World Cup that a move away from Atletico could be "the best thing for everyone," fueling speculation about his future.
Barcelona's president Joan Laporta confirmed earlier in July that the club had submitted an offer to Atletico for Alvarez and would keep it open indefinitely. However, Atletico rejected a 150 million euro bid from Real Madrid in June, which was seen as a strategic move by Los Blancos to complicate Barcelona's pursuit of the player.
Barcelona aims to strengthen their squad following the departure of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski last season, with Alvarez viewed as a key target.
In addition to the FIFA complaint, Atletico reportedly filed a grievance with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), although the federation has not issued any comments.
