- Julian Alvarez to join Atletico Madrid from Manchester City for £81m
- City wanted to keep Alvarez, but the Argentine wanted more playing time
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Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez will arrive in Madrid on Sunday before signing a five-year contract and completing his £81m move to Atletico Madrid tomorrow.
Alvarez, 24, will join the Spanish giants two-and-a-half years after moving to City from River Plate for £14million, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a huge profit for the Argentine.
Atletico have agreed a deal for an initial €75m (£64m) but the striker’s move could rise to as much as €95m (£81m) with performance-based add-ons.
His time at the Etihad has been hugely successful, with Alvarez winning six trophies, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League, while he also lifted the World Cup and Copa America with Argentina during that period.
The striker scored 36 goals and added 18 assists in 103 games for City and while the English champions were interested in retaining the forward, Alvarez is believed to be motivated by a move to increase his playing time.
Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez will arrive in Madrid on Sunday before signing a five-year contract and completing his £81m move to Atletico Madrid tomorrow.
Álvarez has enjoyed a successful spell with City, winning six trophies in just over two years.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone has been one of Alvarez’s most fervent admirers but the 24-year-old has already attracted interest from a number of top clubs, including Premier League rivals Chelsea.
But Atletico’s interest increased earlier this week, with the club even considering including João Félix in return in an attempt to complete the transfer.
Mail Sport reported on Monday that Felix could have been offered to Pep Guardiola’s side on loan with an option to buy.
City had already been interested in the Portuguese striker before his loan move to Chelsea in 2023.
Although Alvarez finished the season as one of City’s most-played players, the player was open about his desire to be involved in high-risk confrontations.
“Last season I was one of the players who played the most minutes at City. But… in the end, you don’t like to miss out on important games; you want to contribute,” he said earlier this summer.
“I’ll take my time to think about what I want for myself. We’ll see after the Games. First, if I can, I’ll take a few days off. Then we’ll decide.”
Alvarez also won the Copa America and the World Cup during his time at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola insisted City will take their time spending the funds raised from the sale of Alvarez
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of their Community Shield victory over Manchester United, Guardiola said they would not rush into signing a new midfielder with the funds raised from the sale of Alvarez.
“Yes, we’ll see,” Guardiola said. “If we need someone, the price we sign him for has to be right, otherwise it wouldn’t make sense.”
‘We’ll see the possibilities at the end of the market, if a club needs to sell more than now for example, so I don’t know.
‘Maybe a holding midfielder who can play as a central defender or a central defender who can play in Rodri’s position.’