Atletico Madrid Completes Signing Of Julian Alvarez From Manchester City

Atletico Madrid have announced the signing of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City on a six-year contract for a fee that could reach €95m.

Alvarez suggested over the summer that he might consider leaving City to find more playing time, even though he has made appearances for the club during his two seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

The likes of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain were linked with the Argentina forward, but Atletico were the team to agree terms with City over a transfer, which was completed on Monday after Alvarez underwent a medical.

In a parting statement to City, Alvarez said on social media: “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 learned 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 learned a lot from 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.”

Alvarez departs from City after winning six trophies during his two-year tenure. He was significant contributor to the team that achieved able in the 2022/ season, culminating in City’s first-ever Champions League.

The 24-year-old leaves afternoon scoring 36 goals and providing 18 assists for City, while his time in Manchester also saw him establish himself as a regular in the Argentina national team.

He played a crucial role as a backup to both striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

Reports indicated that Alvarez’s potential transfer to Atletico might have been at risk due to the collapse of the Spanish side’s deal to sell Samu Omorodion to Chelsea.

This seems to primarily affect a possible swap involving Conor Gallagher.

Atletico and Chelsea are currently in discussions regarding Joao Felix, who was loaned to Stamford Bridge for the latter half of the 2022/23 season.