Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez has joined Atletico Madrid on a six-year deal for £81.5m.

Diego Simeone’s Spanish team will initially pay £64.4m.

City achieved their record sale with the 24-year-old’s departure, surpassing the £50m they received from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling in 2022.

The sum of £14.1m was paid to River Plate for Alvarez in January 2022.

Alvarez stated that City will forever have a special place in his heart, given his two-year stay and six major trophies won.

“Today, I say goodbye to this amazing club with a lot of emotion,” he said.

“These have been two extraordinary years. During this time, I have grown and learned a lot – both as a player and person.”

In his debut season at the club, he won the treble and the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

Having made 106 appearances for City, the striker leaves with a total of 36 goals.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain said Alvarez has been “a pleasure to work with”.

“The trophies he has won already tell their own story – he is a winner,” added Begiristain

“I look forward to watching him develop further in the remainder of his career.”

City kicks off their Premier League campaign with an away game against Chelsea on Sunday.

Villarreal will host Atletico Madrid on 19 August, marking the opening weekend of the La Liga season.