A fresh dispute has emerged in Spanish football after Atletico Madrid officially reported Barcelona to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over the Catalan club’s attempts to sign striker Julian Alvarez.

The complaint reportedly centers on Atletico’s belief that Barcelona acted inappropriately while trying to negotiate a move for the Argentine international, who remains under contract with the Madrid club until 2030.

Barcelona are expected to challenge the complaint as tensions between the two clubs continue to grow.

Alvarez became one of the most talked-about players in this summer’s transfer window after expressing his desire to explore a new challenge following the FIFA World Cup.

His comments immediately sparked interest from several top European clubs, with Barcelona identifying him as one of their priority attacking targets.

The transfer saga intensified when reports suggested Barcelona were preparing a substantial offer for the 26-year-old.

Atletico responded publicly through social media, dismissing transfer speculation and warning supporters against believing every report surrounding the striker’s future.

Real Madrid also entered the conversation after claims surfaced that they had submitted a massive bid for Alvarez.

Atletico, however, questioned the seriousness of that proposal, insisting the reported offer did not reflect genuine negotiations.

Since arriving from Manchester City in 2024, Alvarez has established himself as one of Atletico’s most reliable forwards. His consistent goalscoring performances have made him one of La Liga’s standout attackers and an important figure in Diego Simeone’s squad.

Despite helping Argentina reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Alvarez was unable to lift the trophy as Spain secured a narrow extra-time victory, adding further attention to a summer already dominated by speculation over his future.