Atletico Madrid have signed Argentinean forward, Julian Alvarez from Manchester City in a £81.6m transfer.
Alvarez’s move came after he sought more game time after just two years at Man City, in which he scored 36 goals and contributed 18 assists in 103 appearances.
During his time at City, Alvarez helped the Cityzens win two Premier League titles plus one FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup title apiece.
His desire for further game time ultimately saw him become City’s most expensive sale at £81.6m, with Atletico paying a £64.4m initial transfer fee followed by £17.2m in add-ons for Alvarez who signed a six-year contract.
Speaking to mancity.com about his move, Alvarez said that he was sad to leave a “special” club, who had helped him develop his game as he thanked everyone at the club.
“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.
“To the directors and the technical staff, thank you for your confidence and support. Your teachings and vision have helped me to develop so much.
“To my teammates, thank you for every moment we have shared, for the effort and dedication in every training session and every match. I have learnt a lot from each and every one of you and I remain with memories and friendships that will last forever.
“To the fans, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great support and for making me feel at home from the very first day. I will always be extremely proud to have been part of this family.
“Manchester City will always have a special place in my heart. I wish you every success in the future and I will keep on supporting the club wherever I may be.”
City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain added: “Everyone at Manchester City wishes Julian all the very best with the next stage of his career – he has been a pleasure to work with.
“His attitude has been first-class since he first walked through the door here. That’s why he has improved so much.
“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.”
City manager, Pep Guardiola issued his own tribute prior to the Community Shield triumph over Manchester United, in which he said: “He wants to leave and Atlético is a top club, so it’s ok. Good luck to Juli, we loved him, we won everything.”
The 24 year-old began his career at River Plate where he delivered 54 goals and 31 assists plus six trophies in four years, having made his debut in October 2018.
Internationally, Alvarez represents Argentina and has managed nine goals in 36 senior caps, of which four goals came in a title-winning 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, whilst he also won Copa America with his nation in 2021 and 2024.
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