Atlético Madrid to File FIFA Complaint Over Barcelona's Approach for Julián Álvarez
Atlético Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has announced that the club will lodge a FIFA complaint against Barcelona, accusing them of making an improper approach for Julián Álvarez while he is under contract until 2030. The dispute centers on whether Barcelona contacted Álvarez’s camp during FIFA’s protected period without Atlético’s consent. As of now, no formal filing has been confirmed.
The situation has been escalating, with Álvarez publicly stating his desire to leave Atlético Madrid. The club, however, is holding firm, with Gil Marín emphasizing that Álvarez is under contract and has a reported €500 million release clause. Atlético Madrid has already rejected a €150 million approach from Real Madrid and is treating any bid below the release clause as not serious.
Atletico Madrid
clubThe potential FIFA complaint, if filed, would hinge on evidence of substantive contact between Barcelona and Álvarez or his representatives without Atlético’s consent during the protected period. If proven, this could lead to disciplinary sanctions and restrictions for Barcelona. However, the evidentiary burden is high, and disputes often turn on documentation and whether any club-to-club contact occurred.
For Atlético Madrid, the leverage is contractual, but the sporting risk is managing a high-profile player who has publicly asked to leave during a World Cup summer. For Barcelona, even an unproven complaint can add compliance risk and slow negotiations, especially with the need to plan for a post-Robert Lewandowski forward line.
Barcelona
clubThe next meaningful development will be whether Atlético Madrid formally files its FIFA complaint and submits documentation that forces a regulatory response, and whether Barcelona decides to return with a substantially improved bid that shifts the conversation from accusation to negotiation.
No public statement from Barcelona confirming or denying the alleged improper contact had been cited alongside Atlético Madrid’s FIFA complaint as of late June 2026.