Atletico Madrid Signs Julian Alvarez for £81m from Manchester City

Atletico Madrid has finalized the signing of Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez for a reported fee of £81.5 million. The deal spans six years, with Atletico paying an initial £64.4 million (75 million euros) and a potential additional £17.1 million (20 million euros) in add-ons.

This transfer marks a record sale for Manchester City, surpassing the £50 million received from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in 2022. Alvarez joined City from Argentine club River Plate in January 2022 for £14.1 million.

Reflecting on his time at City, Alvarez expressed gratitude, stating, "Today I say goodbye to this amazing club, with a lot of emotion. These have been two very special years. During this time, I have grown and learnt a lot - both as a player and as a person." During his tenure, Alvarez contributed significantly to the team, winning six major trophies and scoring 36 goals in 106 appearances.

Alvarez's debut season was particularly successful, as he helped the team secure the treble while also winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina midway through the season. City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, acknowledged Alvarez's contributions, stating, "The trophies he has won already tell their own story - he is a winner. I look forward to watching him develop further in the remainder of his career."

As the new Premier League season approaches, Manchester City is set to begin their campaign with a match against Chelsea on Sunday. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will face Villarreal on August 19, marking the start of their La Liga season.