Atletico Madrid complains to federation over Barcelona's pursuit of Julian Alvarez

A dispute has erupted between Spanish football clubs Atletico Madrid and Barcelona over the potential transfer of Argentine striker Julian Alvarez. Atletico Madrid has accused Barcelona of unethical behavior in their pursuit of the player and has lodged a formal complaint with the Spanish Football Federation.

The Athletic reports that Atletico Madrid believes Barcelona has engaged in improper dealings regarding Alvarez, who is currently under contract with Atletico until 2030. The club is preparing to defend its position and contest Barcelona's alleged actions.

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This is not the time to talk about it but I'm not going to hide either, I'm trying to be an honest person. I spoke with the officials at Atletico Madrid and I think a transfer is the best for everyone. I want to fulfill my dream.

This situation comes after Alvarez himself publicly expressed his desire for a move. During the World Cup, he stated, "This is not the time to talk about it, but I'm not going to hide either, I'm trying to be an honest person. I spoke with the officials at Atletico Madrid and I think a transfer is the best for everyone. I want to fulfill my dream."

Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, has acknowledged the club's interest and confirmed they have submitted a substantial offer for Alvarez. He indicated that the validity of their offer would be clarified after the World Cup, noting that "there are many examples where a player is told they will not go to a certain team, but they end up transferring to that team." Alvarez, 26, has been with Atletico since 2024, scoring 49 goals and providing 17 assists in 106 appearances, with a current market value estimated at 120 million Euros.

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We made a very good offer for Julian Alvarez. We will announce how long our offer is valid after the World Cup. There are many examples where a player is told they will not go to a certain team, but they end up transferring to that team.