The latest transfer news coming from the blue half of Manchester is that Atlético Madrid have reportedly agreed a record-breaking deal with City to sign Julián Álvarez.
Álvarez, 24, had hinted that his future at Man City was far from settled just last month after making some comments about his playing time and telling national media that he would “decide” after Argentina’s time at this year’s Olympics came to an end.
Well, the South American nation crashed out of Paris 2024 in a turbulent semi-final against France last Friday, which ended with a lengthy on-pitch scuffle after the full-time whistle, and it now looks as though that decision has indeed been made regarding his transfer away from the club.
As per The Athletic and several reliable sources, it appears Julián Álvarez is now set to join Spanish side Atlético Madrid after a deal was agreed on Tuesday, 6 August.
Man City signed Julián Alvarez for less than $18m in 2022. In two years he's won…
Premier League🏆🏆 Champions League 🏆 Club World Cup 🏆 UEFA Super Cup 🏆 FA Cup 🏆
According to multiple outlets, the 11-time La Liga Champions are expected to pay Man City £81.5 million to secure the services of Álvarez, who has largely found himself the second striker in line behind Erling Haaland and a squad player under Pep Guardiola.
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If fully finalised, this would be a landmark deal for City, surpassing the previous record fee of £50m that was paid by Chelsea for Raheem Sterling back in 2022.
While personal terms are still yet to be agreed upon, it is thought the deal will be for a five-year contract and also include stipulations regarding image rights.
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It was unclear how much of the previous talk about his minutes was merely posturing in an effort to become a more regular starter and how wantaway the forward was, but with a World Cup and Copa America already to his name, it looks as though Madrid saw their opportunity and have seized it.
The treble-winner, who has already won six trophies with the Blues alone, was signed for just £14m back in 2022 and will be moved on to the tune of £68 in profit.
Álvarez only signed a new contract with the club back in March 2023 that would have seen him stay until 2028, and Pep did respond to his comments last month saying that, essentially, the ball was in his court.
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Nevertheless, it seems the wantaway serial winner will soon be wearing white and red stripes, not to mention back in a primarily Spanish-speaking setting and under the tutelage of a fellow countryman in long-serving manager Diego Simeone.
The former River Plate did insist that he was happy at the club and would simply like to be involved in more big game moments rather than coming off the bench and being rotated in other competitions, but there’s no doubt he will be leading the line for Atlético.
What are your thoughts then, City fans – sad to see him go, not too fussed, simply wish him the best, or somewhere in between?
Manchester City opens brand-new store at the Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City has opened the doors to its new Trafford Centre store just in time for the Black Friday shopping frenzy.
The club has launched the brand-new store in collaboration with retail partner Stichd.
The Manchester City store offers fans a bespoke City shopping experience, including this season’s PUMA kits, the Christmas collection (with a £5 donation to City in the Community (CITC) with specific products), and shirt printing.
Shoppers will be able to browse a range of sky blue shirts, hats, scarves, and gloves, as well as soft toys, mugs, and other collectibles.
There’s already a City store in the Manchester Arndale, which opened a couple of years ago, but its arrival at the Trafford Centre is a new development.
Other existing stores include sites in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York City, Seoul and Shenzhen.
Serena Gosling, Director of Retail and Licensing at Manchester City, said: “We’re proud to reveal our latest City Store in the iconic Trafford Centre, Manchester – our third location within the city.
“It provides another touchpoint for fans to interact with the club – at a venue that is a shopping favourite within the North West.
“We know the Trafford Centre attracts huge numbers of local shoppers, and tourists, so we are sure our newest store will provide a convenient location for fans, and of course, at this festive time of year, for those buying presents.
Manchester City opens brand-new store at the Trafford Centre. Credit: The Manc Group
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the store.”
Will Rodnight, Head of Physical Retail, stichd, said: “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Manchester City through the opening of this third City store in Manchester at the Trafford Centre.
“Our goal is to create an exceptional retail experience that reflects the passion of City fans. This new location adds another fantastic opportunity to connect with supporters in one of the UK’s most iconic shopping destinations, and we can’t wait to welcome them.”
Kate Pearson, Portfolio Leasing Director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, added: “We look forward to welcoming the new City Store to Trafford Centre. This bespoke new retail offering complements our current sportswear retailers whilst also adding a personalised experience for their supporters. We are excited to see their success once the doors open.”
Oasis and adidas drop yet more new merch in the Live ’25 collection
Danny Jones
The Oasis and adidas love affair isn’t over just yet; it isn’t going anywhere, as the legendary Manc band group and global sports apparel franchise are releasing another batch of merch as part of the smash-hit Live ’25 collection.
After shirts, shoes, jackets and bucket hats galore sold out all over the world, adidas is now toasting not only the end of the reunion world tour but “the year that was Oasis” with a second drop in the already iconic crossover.
If you passed through Manchester at all during their Heaton Park homecoming run, you will have no doubt seen countless examples of the ‘adidas Originals x Oasis’ football shirt collaboration alone, not to mention several other bits of fashion in the official Live ’25 fashion line.
Now, just in time for Christmas, there’s a whole new set being introduced into the range of casual wear.
Simply titled ‘Oasis Live ‘25 Drop 2’, the latest additions to the adidas Originals collection are releasing next month and, obviously, will be sold in stores and online.
While the pop-up stores that opened up here in the city centre all over have now shut up shop, Greater Manchester’s adidas locations on Market Street – which turned into an Oasis fan paradise this past summer – and Pear Mill in Stockport will still be stocking the various bits of Britpop clobber.
Although the most recent items will be exclusively available domestically for now, they will be rolled out overseas in 2026.
Considering how quickly most of it sold out last time, you can guarantee most of the options to fly off the shelves just as fast here in the UK.
Honestly, we’ve only just managed to get our hands on the standard black ‘jacquard jersey’.
As you can see, a good chunk of the second drop is that same footy shirt in different colours and other tees in different lengths/variations.
Scheduled to launch on Friday, 12 December, the ‘Oasis x adidas Originals Live ‘25 Drop 2’ will go on sale at 9am sharpish, so you’d best get ready for a scrap in that digital queue.
Naturally, fans, fashionistas and collectors can expect virtually identical costs for the majority of pieces (and buying in-person will obviously help keep the cost down), though it does look like some price points have been adjusted.
As for the Live ’25 tour itself, now that the dust has settled on the ‘Oasis Mania‘ take two, Liam himself has taken to social media to express his gratitude in the most Gallagher way possible…
Danny Jones -
6th August 2024 
