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 hinted throughout the summer that he could seek to leave City in search of more game time, despite making 103 appearances for the club across his two-season stay 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 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.”
Alvarez leaves City having won six trophies in two years on their books. He was notably part of the side that won the treble in 2022/23, with the Cityzens claiming their first ever Champions League.
The 24-year-old departs after registering 36 goals and 18 assists for City, while his spell in Manchester coincided with him becoming a regular in the Argentina national setup. He served well as an understudy to both striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
Reports claimed Alvarez’s move to Atletico could have been in jeopardy after the Spanish side’s deal to sell Samu Omorodion to Chelsea collapsed, but that appears to only impact a move that would see Conor Gallagher move in the other direction. Atletico and Chelsea are now in talks over Joao Felix, who spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Stamford Bridge.
