Atletico Madrid Set To Splurge More than $100 million To Bring On Board Manchester City Striker

Just days ahead of the start of the new season, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are making waves in the transfer market and look set to sign a big name from EPL champions Manchester City. Atleti, who are known to make smart buys, are seemingly ready to splurge as many as 100 million this time. The huge sum often corresponds with a forward and that's time as well it is an attacker who is in contention.

Also Read | How Ryan Reynolds Is Leading Wrexham AFC To The Premier League?

Julian Alvarez To Leave Manchester City And Join Atletico Madrid

Argentina striker Julian Alvarez, who emerged as one of the reasons behind Manchester City's success in the last two seasons, is set to leave City to join Atletico Madrid. According to reports, a deal worth more than 100 million is in place between the clubs for Alvarez and the striker looks. Alvarez did not keep the Manchester City manager in blindspot and brought him into knowledge about his decision. Paying heed to it, here's what the City boss had to say about the potential departure of Julian Alvarez.

“If you are not happy, why should you be here?” Guardiola said. “When you believe happiness is around another corner, you have to go there to take a look.”

City could get up to 95 million euros ($104 million) for the 24-year-old Alvarez, who joined from Argentine team River Plate in 2022 for 14 million pounds (now $17.8 million). He helped City win the Premier League in both of the seasons he was in England, as well as the Champions League and the Club World Cup.

Alvarez, however, was behind Erling Haaland in the pecking order of strikers and was often a substitute.

“We have won everything together … he was incredible, and there’s an incredible love from the team for his behavior,” Guardiola said. “But like I said many, many times about the players, if he wants to leave, (he can have) a new challenge. Atletico Madrid is a top, top club in Spain and Europe.

“When they suggest to me through the club that they want to leave, it’s OK if you want to leave. Imagine staying here if he doesn’t want to stay? But at the same time, we have to reach an agreement with both clubs. It has happened, both clubs are happy and we wish him all the best.”

Guardiola said Alvarez told him he “feels there is work he needs to do.”

“Last season he played a lot, some moments he played with Erling as well,” Guardiola said. “But I understand in certain moments, important moments, maybe he thought he wasn’t going to play. I respect it a lot.”
Asked if City would be replacing Alvarez in the squad ahead of the new season, which starts next week, Guardiola said: “I don’t know yet. We talk every day, we see what happens.”

(With inputs from AP)