Spanish giants report Barcelona to FIFA amid growing tensions over striker Julian Alvarez’s declared desire to leave this summer

Atletico Madrid have escalated tensions in the Spanish transfer market by taking their dispute over forward Julian Alvarez to FIFA, amid an increasingly heated battle involving LaLiga rivals Barcelona over the Argentine striker’s future.

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The move follows public comments from Alvarez indicating his desire to leave the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, with the 26-year-old forward stating he hopes to join what he described as his “dream” club, widely understood to be Barcelona.

The situation has triggered a strong response from Atletico’s hierarchy, with CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín insisting the club has no intention of sanctioning a sale, particularly to a direct domestic rival.

“It wasn’t the right day to make such statements; it was a day for Messi and the Argentine national team, not Julian,” Gil Marín told EFE, referring to the broader context of Argentine football celebrations at the time.

He added that while Alvarez has expressed personal ambitions, Atletico’s position remains firm. “Julian has a dream, but we Atletico fans have dreams too… Atleti do not want to transfer him,” he said.

The controversy has intensified scrutiny over Alvarez’s future after reports suggested that Real Madrid had already seen a €150 million bid rejected for the striker, underlining Atletico’s determination to retain one of their most valuable attacking assets.

Alvarez’s public declaration has added pressure to an already delicate situation, placing Atletico in a difficult position as they attempt to balance player ambition with club strategy ahead of the new season.

Sources close to the negotiations suggest Atletico’s decision to involve FIFA reflects their concern over external influence in the transfer process, particularly from rival clubs seeking to exploit the player’s stated preference.

Barcelona have not publicly responded to the allegations, but the development is expected to further strain relations between two of Spain’s biggest clubs as the summer transfer window progresses.

The dispute now moves into a formal regulatory arena, where FIFA’s involvement could determine whether any breach of transfer regulations has occurred or whether Atletico retain full control over the striker’s contractual future.

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As it stands, Atletico remain firm that Alvarez is not for sale, setting the stage for a prolonged and potentially high-stakes standoff in the weeks ahead.