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Barcelona's aggressive pursuit of Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez has reportedly landed the club in hot water with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The reigning Spanish champions had earmarked the Argentine as their top target to fill the void left by Robert Lewandowski, who departed Catalonia as a free agent to join Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. Barcelona subsequently tabled a €100 million ($114 million) offer for Alvarez that Atlético Madrid promptly rejected, sparking a very public and bitter transfer battle.
Los Rojiblancos repeatedly insisted Alvarez was not available for transfer, despite the player himself pushing for a move. Barcelona persisted in their pursuit of the 26-year-old even as Atlético ridiculed their attempts on social media through viral spoof transfer announcements.
Atlético subsequently filed a formal complaint with the RFEF on June 30. Now, a month on, The Athletic reports that Barcelona are under investigation for their "improper" pursuit of Alvarez.
Why RFEF Opened a Formal Case Against Barcelona
Atlético Madrid allege that Barcelona made contact with Alvarez, who is contracted until 2030, outside the permitted transfer window in an attempt to secure the striker's signature. Los Rojiblancos claim the Catalans committed a "breach of ethics."
Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín voiced these concerns back in June, when he publicly condemned the defending Spanish champions and threatened legal action, which has now materialized.
"Barça are disrespecting us," Gil Marín told EFE, via ESPN. "They think they can walk all over us and that we are weak and stupid, but in reality, they are showing the world a way of acting which defines them.
"They lie to us, to the player, to the media ... they even lie to their own supporters. They try to make everyone believe they can do a deal that in reality they are not capable of doing.
"Our responsibility is to defend the interests of Atlético Madrid. That is why we are going to lodge a complaint with FIFA against Barça for negotiating with a player under contract during the protected period."
What's Next For Barcelona, Alvarez?
Barcelona are anticipated to contest the complaint lodged by Atlético Madrid, though MARCA reports the club does not want the "operation to drag on indefinitely."
After all, the Catalans have already brought in wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi this summer to help offset the goalscoring burden previously shouldered by Lewandowski. The new signings will also provide Flick with valuable squad depth following Marcus Rashford's return to Old Trafford.
Naturally, the club would love to round off the summer window by landing Alvarez, but relations with Atlético have deteriorated even further, making a deal increasingly unlikely. Diego Simeone appears to have absolutely no desire to let his star forward leave.
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Atlético even turned down a questionable €150 million ($171.4 million) offer from Real Madrid for Alvarez, who has netted 49 goals in 106 outings for the Madrid club since arriving from Manchester City ahead of the 2024–25 campaign.
All attention will turn to Alvarez on Aug. 10, when he is due to rejoin Atlético's squad following his summer break after the 2026 World Cup. The 26-year-old managed just one goal throughout the tournament and had to settle for a runners-up medal with Argentina.