Manchester City has made a significant deal with Atletico Madrid, agreeing to sell Julián Álvarez for a club-record £81.5 million. This deal will result in a substantial profit for City, as they had initially signed Álvarez from River Plate for just £14 million in 2022. Atletico Madrid has agreed to pay an initial fee of €75 million (£64.3 million) with an additional €20 million (£17.2 million) in add-ons. If all the conditions are met, City stands to make a profit of £67.5 million on Álvarez.
Álvarez, who expressed his desire to become a first-choice starter, agreed to personal terms with Atletico on Tuesday night. Despite City’s preference to keep him, they were swayed by the player’s wishes and Atletico’s willingness to meet their demands. This move leaves City with Brazil winger Savinho as their only signing this summer, leading to speculation about potential reinforcements. Options such as Wolves forward Pedro Neto and Bruno Guimaraes were considered, but City was unwilling to meet certain valuations.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid was eager to secure Álvarez this summer, and they even offered Joao Felix as part of the deal. Álvarez, who has had a successful stint at City with numerous titles and accolades, decided it was time to move on and seek a starting role elsewhere. City manager Pep Guardiola has respected Álvarez’s decision and allowed the transfer to proceed.
The departure of Álvarez opens up opportunities for other players within City’s squad, such as James McAtee, who Guardiola has praised and intends to keep for the upcoming season. Despite some disagreements between Guardiola and Álvarez regarding playing time, the player expressed his gratitude and contentment with his time at City.
This significant transfer highlights the competitive nature of modern football, where players seek playing time and opportunities to shine. Álvarez’s move to Atletico Madrid marks a new chapter in his career, and City will move forward with their current squad and potential new additions. The football world continues to evolve, with clubs making strategic decisions to enhance their performance and achieve their goals.