Joe McConnell
Atletico Madrid have completed an £82m deal to sign Argentine striker Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.
Alvarez, who did not feature in City’s Community Shield victory over Manchester United on Saturday, has signed a six-year deal with Diego Simeone’s side.
He leaves Manchester for Real Madrid after two and a half years of great success in blue, during which he collected six trophies and scored 36 goals in 103 appearances.
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Watch some of Julian Alvarez’s best Premier League goals
Arriving from River Plate in a £14m deal in January 2022, the sale of the 24-year-old represents a huge gain for City.
During his time at City, Alvarez also won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and the Copa America earlier this year.
The £82m fee is a record sale for City. It is the fifth-largest sale to a foreign club in Premier League history.
Julian Alvarez’s sale to Atletico Madrid is the fifth-largest for a foreign club
“Today I say goodbye to this fantastic club with great emotion,” Alvarez said on City’s official website.
“It’s been a really special two years. During this time I’ve grown and learned a lot, both as a player and as a person.
“To the directors and coaching staff, thank you for your trust and support. Your teachings and vision have helped me grow so much.
“To my teammates, thank you for every moment shared, for your commitment and dedication in every training session and every game.
Alvarez joined City from River Plate for £14m in January 2022
“I have learned so much from each of you and have 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 day one. 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 will continue to support the club wherever I am.”
Txiki Begiristain, City’s sporting director, said: “Everyone at Manchester City wishes Julian all the best for the next stage of his career – it has been a pleasure working with him.
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“His attitude has been first class since he first walked in the door here. That’s why he’s improved so much.
“The trophies he has won already tell their story: he is a winner. I look forward to seeing him grow further in the rest of his career.”
Man City 2024/25 Fixtures: Chelsea First to the Field
Champions Manchester City will begin the defence of their 2024/25 Premier League title with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsealive Vscek Sunday 18 August.
The city hosts the newly promoted City of Ipswich in their first home game on 24 August before travelling to the London Stadium to face Western Ham for the third game of the season on August 31.
Their first meeting with last season’s runners-up Arsenal will take place at the Etihad Stadium on September 21, with the return match scheduled for February 1, part of a complicated series that features home games against Chelsea (January 25), Newcastle (February 15) and Liverpool (February 22) and a trip to Tottenham (February 25).
The first Manchester derby against Manchester United will be played on December 14 at the Etihad Stadium, while the return match will be played at Old Trafford on April 5.
