Why Alvarez's £82m transfer to Atletico was at risk

EXPLAINED: WHY JULIAN ALVAREZ'S £82M MOVE TO ATLETICO MADRID WAS IN JEOPARDY AS MANCHESTER CITY STAR FINALLY AGREES ON PERSONAL TERMS WITH LA LIGA GIANTS

Julian Alvarez of Manchester City is on the verge of completing a transfer to Atletico Madrid, although the deal encountered several hurdles along the way. The Argentine forward has finally reached an agreement on personal terms with the La Liga club, clearing the way for the move after previous concerns over his salary and contract length nearly jeopardized the transfer.

According to Ben Jacobs, although Manchester City and Atletico Madrid had initially agreed on a transfer fee, negotiations were strained due to a disagreement between the player and the club over Alvarez’s base salary and the duration of his contract. This disagreement threatened to derail the transfer, with a reported difference of around €2m to €3m (£1.7m to £2.6m) creating tension. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid has since made an improved offer that has resolved the issue, allowing Alvarez to finalize a five-year contract with the Spanish side.

The transfer, which will see Alvarez join Atletico for a record-breaking fee of £82m ($104m/€95m), marks Manchester City’s highest-ever sale. The protracted nature of Alvarez's deal has had ripple effects on other transfers, notably impacting Chelsea's Conor Gallagher and Atletico's Saul Omorodion. With Alvarez's move now imminent, Gallagher is expected to make a switch to Atletico Madrid, while Omorodion may head to Chelsea.

Alvarez, who has had an extensive season including appearances in the Copa America and the Olympics, is looking forward to a well-deserved break. However, he is focused on finalizing the details of his transfer to Spain before taking time off. Once the move is complete, Alvarez will have the opportunity to become a key player for Atletico Madrid, fulfilling his desire to be the main man in a new league.