Just 602 euros: Barcelona's punishment in the Julián Álvarez case
The Spanish federation (RFEF) ruled that Barcelona's approach to the Atlético striker was a minor offense. The club denies breaking the rules and plans to appeal.
Barcelona have been sanctioned over their efforts to sign Julián Álvarez, but the amount is striking: 602 euros. The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation punished the club for contacting the striker's camp without first notifying Atlético Madrid in writing.
The figure is just two euros more than the individual 600-euro fine Lionel Messi received in 2020 for revealing a Newell's shirt in his tribute to Diego Maradona.
The case began with a complaint from Atlético over the approaches to a player under contract until June 2030 with a 500-million-euro release clause.
The ruling accepted as proven a conversation on May 15, 2026, between Deco, Barcelona's sporting director, and Fernando Hidalgo, the Argentine's agent. The first written communication to Atlético arrived on May 28, thirteen days later.
Hidalgo had claimed he had permission to offer the player and negotiate a possible exit. However, the Committee did not consider that authorization proven: knowing the striker's valuation was not the same as having a mandate to negotiate his transfer.
The key to the punishment lies in how the conduct was classified. The disciplinary body ruled out treating it as a serious offense, as the required conditions, including repetition, were not met. It applied Article 133 of the Disciplinary Code and set the fine at 602 euros.
Barcelona argued they acted in good faith and denied any wrongdoing. The club intends to challenge the sanction; it has ten working days from the day after notification to go to the Appeals Committee.
Julián remains at Atlético. Barcelona failed to land the signing and now want the 602-euro fine thrown out as well.
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