Julian Alvarez’s decision to leave Manchester City in late July might have seemed unexpected, but perhaps it wasn’t. Despite playing more games than any other City player last season and being part of a club aiming to win every trophy possible, Alvarez felt unfulfilled. He wanted more, and when Pep Guardiola advised him to carefully consider his future, it didn’t take long for Alvarez to make up his mind. Presenting an attractive offer from Atletico Madrid, Alvarez decided to leave just two weeks later.
Guardiola, likely taken aback by Alvarez’s comments, wasn’t pleased. Alvarez expressed a desire to play in more significant matches, to which Guardiola curtly responded that everyone shares that sentiment. This frosty exchange hinted at deeper issues within the team regarding Alvarez’s role.
The seeds of this transfer were planted months earlier. In April, Alvarez told MEN Sport that while he was playing more than in his first year, he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his role. He had shown his adaptability by filling in for injured players like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, but once they returned, he found himself back on the bench, even during crucial matches like the Premier League finale and the FA Cup final.
Alvarez believed he could play alongside Haaland, but this often meant taking De Bruyne’s place. Reflecting on his goal in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in 2023, Alvarez noted that he didn’t start that match and wished he had more time on the pitch.
Before his departure, teammates like Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker expressed hope that Alvarez would stay and acknowledged that he deserved more opportunities in key moments. Walker even suggested that Alvarez might have felt he should have played more, especially given Haaland’s record-breaking performances.
Guardiola might argue that Alvarez was benched because Haaland and De Bruyne were ahead of him in the pecking order. This is likely why Alvarez saw Atletico Madrid as a better fit, where he would get more playing time. However, it’s uncertain if Atletico can offer him the chance to play in the big semi-finals and finals he craves.
City accepted the £64 million offer for a player who wasn’t part of their strongest lineup. Whether they’ll regret this decision in the future remains to be seen, but Guardiola has always maintained that he doesn’t want unhappy players on his team. The tension between the manager and Alvarez became evident during Alvarez’s international duty last month. While there was praise when the Atletico offer came through, Alvarez notably didn’t mention Guardiola in his farewell message to City.
Whether there was an ongoing issue between them, or if Alvarez simply made a move that suited all parties, only time will tell. For now, City is £64 million richer, and Alvarez is seeking the opportunities he felt were lacking at his former club.
