La Liga
Atlético Madrid sues Barcelona over formal Álvarez transfer
Atlético Madrid announced it will lodge a formal complaint with FIFA against FC Barcelona, alleging the Catalan club breached transfer rules by negotiating directly with Argentine striker Julián Álvarez. The statement, issued from the Colchonero side’s offices, warns that the dispute could sever diplomatic ties between the two LaLiga institutions.
The Rojiblanco board described Barcelona as a “cheating club” that systematically breaks FIFA’s transfer regulations. Club officials claim the Catalans repeatedly ignore the protocol that requires clubs to negotiate through each other.
Atlético Madrid points to previous incidents involving Antoine Griezmann, alleging Barcelona used the same illicit method to secure his services. They also cite the recent attempt to sign winger Nico Williams, which they say followed the same prohibited approach, although that effort failed.
The complaint seeks exemplary sanctions from FIFA for Barcelona’s direct contact with the Córdoba‑born striker without any formal club‑to‑club negotiations. Atlético argues that such direct outreach violates the rules governing player registrations.
Club executives warn that filing the complaint may completely break the diplomatic relationship between the two LaLiga institutions. They anticipate that FIFA’s ruling could set a precedent for handling similar cross‑club disputes.
The article was translated into English by artificial intelligence, with the original Spanish version available online. Readers can consult the original text for the full context.