Manchester City Bids Farewell To Julian Alvarez As He Joins Atletico Madrid

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Manchester City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, praised Julian Alvarez as a natural winner following his £95 million (€81.5 million) transfer to Atletico Madrid. Atletico will pay an initial £75 million (€64.5 million) plus £20 million (€17 million) in add-ons for the Argentine forward, who has signed a six-year deal with the Spanish club.

During his two seasons with Manchester City, Alvarez won numerous titles including two Premier League championships, an FA Cup, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup. He scored 36 goals in 103 appearances under Pep Guardiola, with 19 goals in 54 matches last season alone. Alvarez played more games than any other City player during that period.

Begiristain expressed his best wishes for Alvarez's future, stating on the club's website: "Everyone at Manchester City wishes Julian all the very best with the next stage of his career – he has been a pleasure to work with. His attitude has been first-class since he first walked through the door here. That’s why he has improved so much. The trophies he has won already tell their own story – he is a winner."

In a heartfelt farewell statement, Alvarez reflected on his time at Manchester City: "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." He thanked the directors, technical staff, teammates, and fans for their support and shared experiences.

"To my team-mates," Alvarez continued, "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."

Guardiola's Confirmation

Last week, Guardiola confirmed that Alvarez had expressed a desire to challenge himself in another league. Now joining Diego Simeone's team at Atletico Madrid, Alvarez aims to help end their three-year wait for a major trophy.

Alvarez also helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup while at Etihad Stadium. Reflecting on his journey, he said: "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," Alvarez concluded. "I wish you every success in the future and I will keep on supporting the club wherever I may be."

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