- Manchester City have agreed to sell Alvarez
- The deal is worth up to £81.5m.
- The Spanish club will pay an initial £64.4m
Manchester City have agreed to sell forward Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid in a deal worth up to £81.5m.
The Spanish club will pay an initial £64.4m for the Argentine, with a further £17.1m in potential add-ons. This will surpass the £50m received for Raheem Sterling as City’s highest transfer fee.
Alvarez had expressed a desire to consider his future after Argentina’s Olympic campaign ended, and despite manager Pep Guardiola’s public support, City have opted not to stand in the player’s way.
The 24-year-old joined City from River Plate in 2022 for £14.1m and has been a key part of the team’s success, including a Treble-winning season and a World Cup triumph with Argentina.
While Atletico have secured an agreement with City, personal terms with Alvarez are yet to be finalized. The Spanish club are also in the process of signing Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.
Julian Alvarez’s World Cup triumph in 2022 dramatically altered his trajectory at Manchester City. Previously a relatively unknown quantity acquired for a modest fee, his role within the team became increasingly complex.
With Erling Haaland firmly established as the club’s primary striker, Alvarez faced a challenging decision: compete for a wide attacking berth against a host of established talent, or accept a backup role.
Given his elevated status as a World Cup winner, the latter option was unlikely to satisfy his ambitions long-term.
Atletico Madrid’s interest offered a compelling alternative for the Argentine, a chance to be a central figure at a Champions League-level club.
For City, Alvarez’s departure could accelerate the development of young Brazilian forward Savinho and potentially prompt further squad reinforcements as they strive for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.
