Transfer: World Cup winner Julian Alvarez has completed his £82 million transfer to Atletico Madrid
According to Business Day, Argentina World Cup winner Julian Alvarez has completed his £82 million transfer to Atletico Madrid, setting a new club-record sale for Manchester City.
The 24-year-old striker will cost Atletico Madrid an initial €75 million (£64.1 million), with up to €20 million (£17.1 million) in potential add-ons. This transfer makes Alvarez the second most expensive signing in Atletico’s history, following Joao Felix.
Alvarez has signed a six-year contract with the Spanish club after passing his medical in Madrid. He is Diego Simeone’s second attacking signing of the summer, joining Alexander Sorloth.
During his two-year tenure at Manchester City, Alvarez netted 36 goals in 106 appearances. Last season, he contributed 19 goals and 13 assists in 54 matches, playing a key role in the team’s successes.
City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged Alvarez’s departure and noted that the club might look for a replacement in the transfer market.
In a farewell message, Alvarez expressed his gratitude, stating, “Manchester City will always have a special place in my heart. 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 learned a lot, both as a player and as a person.”
Alvarez’s transfer marks a significant profit for Manchester City, who originally acquired him from River Plate for £14 million in 2022. During his time with City, Alvarez won six trophies, including the treble in his debut season and the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, praised Alvarez, saying, “The trophies he has won already tell their own story—he is a winner. I look forward to watching him develop further in the remainder of his career.”
With Alvarez’s departure, Manchester City has generated approximately £100 million in profit this summer, with only Savinho arriving as a new signing and several players, including Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Liam Delap, Sergio Gomez, and Tommy Doyle, departing.
The Premier League champions will begin their 2024/25 season with a match against Chelsea on Sunday, while Atletico Madrid will face Villarreal on August 19th for the opening of the La Liga season.
Manchester City is in danger of receiving a points deduction or even relegation from the Premier League this season – boosting Liverpool’s hopes of winning the title
Manchester City’s hearing could come next month
Manchester City’s hearing could come next month
Manchester City is bracing for its showdown next month over 115 alleged breaches of Premier League rules, with a decision possible as soon as the new year.
In an update from The Times, it appears the independent commission’s session to deliberate on City’s case will kick off in mid-September rather than November as expected. This is, of course, subject to change if there are additional legal hurdles.
Reserved for a 10-week stint, the hearing is tipped to declare its judgement, while City anticipates another verdict concerning associated party transactions in a mere two weeks. Despite denying any malpractice, should the weightier allegations hold true, the club could be staring down the barrel of Premier League relegation.
City could also receive a points deduction. If Pep Guardiola’s team is handed a points deduction or relegated from the Premier League, it would boost Liverpool’s hopes of winning the title. It would also be good news for other teams trying to win the biggest prize in English soccer, such as Liverpool and Manchester United.
City has dominated the Premier League in recent years, winning six of the last seven titles. That includes four consecutive championships, the first team in English soccer to achieve that feat. Never has a team dominated the league like this.
The only team to stop City in recent times is Liverpool, who was victorious during the 2019/20 season. The Reds know just how frustrating a powerful City is, having finished second behind the Manchester club during the 2018/19 and 2021/22 campaigns.
Spanning nine seasons, the charges claim that City obscured the true nature of its financial dealings, notably regarding payments to former manager Roberto Mancini and certain players. Accusations also include obstructing the probe itself.
Premier League chief Richard Masters, addressing the issue in April, asserted that “the case will resolve itself at some point in the near future.”
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