Barcelona Faces RFEF Probe Over Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez Complaint

The tug-of-war over Julián Álvarez has left the transfer market and walked straight into a courtroom corridor.

According to SPORT, FC Barcelona have now been formally notified that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has opened disciplinary proceedings following Atlético Madrid’s complaint over the Catalan club’s pursuit of the Argentine striker.

At the heart of the case lies a familiar accusation in modern football: improper contact. Atlético allege that Barcelona held talks with Álvarez while he remains under contract at the Metropolitano until 2030.

RFEF opens the file

The RFEF’s notification confirms that a formal case is underway and sets a deadline for Barcelona to present their version of events. The clock is ticking, but there is no sense of panic at the club’s headquarters.

Barcelona’s legal department has already taken hold of Atlético’s complaint and is assembling a detailed response. Every step, every conversation, every formal move in this pursuit is now being combed through and prepared for the federation’s disciplinary arm.

Inside the club, the mood is calm. There is a firm belief that the matter will not end in serious sanctions.

Barça stand their ground

Senior figures at Barcelona are convinced Atlético’s case is flimsy. From their point of view, the story is straightforward.

Álvarez, they argue, publicly expressed his desire to leave Atlético and made no secret of his ambition: he called it a dream to play for Barcelona. Those comments did not drift out in whispers; they were there for everyone to see.

Not long after, Barcelona placed their cards on the table. A formal offer of around €100 million went in for the striker. No backdoor, no shadow negotiations, just a big, open bid.

For Barça, that sequence matters. A player openly stating his wish to move, followed by a clear, official proposal. Inside the club, that is the cornerstone of their defence: an approach they consider transparent rather than clandestine.

Transfer priority amid legal storm

While lawyers draft arguments, the sporting department refuses to blink.

Deco still has one name circled in red to lead Hansi Flick’s attack: Julián Álvarez. The Argentine remains the first-choice option to spearhead Barcelona’s forward line, the piece they see as central to reshaping the team in the new coach’s image.

Atlético, though, have not shifted an inch in public. Their stance is blunt: they do not intend to negotiate Álvarez’s sale to Barcelona. No price, no talks, no opening.

Barcelona’s current offer is not eternal. It is expected to expire soon, a built-in fuse that could force movement one way or another in the coming days. Either the deal catches fire, or it fizzles out.

A saga on two fronts

All the while, the calendar keeps moving. Álvarez is due back at Atlético Madrid’s pre-season training on 10 August. Unless something dramatic happens in the market before then, he is expected to report under Diego Simeone’s orders as usual.

For now, negotiations are stuck. No breakthrough, no new bid, no softening of positions. The battle has simply changed arena.

What began as a transfer chase has become a case file in the hands of Spanish football’s governing authorities. A summer saga that was already one of the most closely watched now carries an extra layer of tension: not just who wins Álvarez’s signature, but who walks away from the RFEF’s verdict unscathed.