Atletico Madrid Break Transfer Record with Signing of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City
Atletico Madrid has made a significant move in the transfer market, completing the £81.5m signing of Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez. The Argentine forward has agreed to a six-year deal with Diego Simeone’s side, making this the highest transfer fee ever paid by Atletico Madrid.
The deal sees Atletico Madrid pay an initial fee of £64.4m (75m euros), with an additional £17.1m (20m euros) in potential add-ons for Alvarez. This represents a record sale for Manchester City, surpassing the £50m they received from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in 2022.
Julian Alvarez, who joined Manchester City from Argentine side River Plate in January 2022 for £14.1m, expressed his gratitude towards his former club. He stated that City will always hold a special place in his heart, acknowledging the two amazing years he spent there. Alvarez played a crucial role in City’s success, winning six major trophies during his time with the club.
During his debut season, Alvarez contributed to City’s treble success, and he also had the honor of winning the 2022 World Cup with the Argentina national team midway through the season. His departure from Manchester City marks the end of an era, as he leaves behind a legacy of 36 goals in 106 appearances for the club.
Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, praised Alvarez for his contributions and stated that he has been a pleasure to work with. Begiristain believes that Alvarez’s trophy record speaks for itself, highlighting his winning mentality. He expressed excitement about watching Alvarez continue to develop and succeed in his future endeavors.
As for the upcoming season, Manchester City will begin their Premier League campaign with a challenging away fixture against Chelsea on Sunday. This will be a crucial match for City, as they aim to defend their title and start the season on a positive note. On the other hand, Atletico Madrid will kick off their La Liga season with an away game against Villarreal on August 19th.
The signing of Julian Alvarez adds firepower to Atletico Madrid’s attack and strengthens their chances of challenging for major honors. With his proven goal-scoring ability and experience at the highest level, Alvarez could be a key player for Atletico Madrid in their pursuit of domestic and European success.
Overall, this transfer represents a significant move for both Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Atletico Madrid has secured the services of a talented striker, while Manchester City has received a substantial transfer fee that will allow them to reinvest in their squad. It will be intriguing to see how both teams fare in the upcoming season and how Alvarez adapts to his new surroundings in Madrid.