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Man City
Julian Alvarez has completed a permanent transfer to Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
The move brings to an end a hugely successful two-year stay at the Etihad for the Argentine striker who joined City from River Plate in 2022.
During his time at the Club, the 24-year-old made 103 appearances in all competitions, registering 36 goals and helping City to secure six major trophies.
In the 2022/23 campaign, his maiden season at City, Alvarez was to make an immediate impact as Pep Guardiola’s side secured an historic and iconic Treble.
Armed with a predatory instinct in front of goal, allied to fine awareness and vision alongside a ferocious work ethic and ability to operate in a number of different roles, Alvarez’s valuable contribution saw City go on to lift the Premier League, FA Cup and secure a maiden Champions League triumph in a never-to-be-forgotten campaign.
All told that debut season he made 49 appearances contributing 17 goals as City carved our name into football folklore.
Alvarez made a similarly significant impact last season by helping City create another major landmark by becoming the first men’s side in English history to win four consecutive league titles.
He made more appearances – 54 in all competitions – than any other player, weighing in with 19 goals and 13 assists.
Alvarez also helped City to yet more silverware as Guardiola’s side lifted both the 2023 UEFA Super Cup and 2023 FIFA Club World Cup where the Argentine memorably scored twice in a 4-0 final victory over Brazilian side Fluminense in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
On the international front meanwhile, Alvarez’s influence has been equally profound.
His efforts played a huge role in helping Argentina secure World Cup glory at Qatar in the 2022 finals, with Alvarez scoring four goals in total at the showpiece tournament, including a brace in a 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.
More latterly Alvarez was also part of the Argentine squad that secured the Copa America at this year’s finals held in the United States.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Alvarez said: “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.”
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “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. I look forward to watching him develop further in the remainder of his career.”
Everyone at Manchester City wished Julian the very best of luck as he embarks on the next stage of his career.