In a significant transfer development, Atlético Madrid has reportedly secured the signing of Julián Álvarez from Manchester City for a fee of €75 million, with an additional €20 million in potential bonuses. The 24-year-old Argentine forward, who has been seeking more playing time, is set to sign a five-year contract with the Spanish club.Álvarez, who scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for Manchester City since joining in 2022, expressed his frustration with limited opportunities, stating, ‘In some important games, when you’re left out, you don’t like it. You want to help’. The move to Atlético Madrid seems to address this concern, with the player’s family already obtaining a residence permit in the Spanish capital.Meanwhile, in another significant development, Ángel Di María has renewed his contract with Benfica until June 30, 2025. The 36-year-old Argentine forward, who returned to Benfica in 2023 after stints with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus, expressed his happiness at extending his stay with the Portuguese club.Di María stated, ‘I’m happy to stay another year at Benfica, to keep wearing this jersey, and I hope it’s possible to win the titles that we couldn’t last season’. He also emphasized his hunger for more success, saying, ‘From the moment I started until today, what I have always wanted were titles’.In other transfer news, Nico Williams has returned to training with Athletic Bilbao, seemingly putting an end to speculation about a potential move. The Spanish winger, who scored in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season, stating, ‘I’m back and eager for the season. I can’t wait for the season to start! Let’s go Athletic’. According to reports, Williams is unlikely to leave the club due to his high salary and family considerations.
Key points
- Atlético Madrid has reportedly signed Julián Álvarez from Manchester City for €75 million plus €20 million in bonuses.
- Ángel Di María has renewed his contract with Benfica until June 30, 2025, extending his stay with the Portuguese club.
- Nico Williams has returned to training with Athletic Bilbao, suggesting he will stay with the club despite transfer speculation.
Contradictions👾While most sources report Álvarez’s transfer to Atlético Madrid as confirmed, Pep Guardiola had previously expressed confidence in Álvarez’s return to Manchester City, creating some uncertainty about the finality of the transfer.
