Manchester City has consistently been one of the best clubs in Europe over the course of the last 5-6 seasons. They have won the Premier League 4 times in a row and there’s no doubt that they are the favourites to win the toughest league in the world for a 5th time in a row. That would make it the best place to be as a footballer right? Well, yes, except if you are Julian Alvarez.
The 24-year-old achieved monumental success in his relatively young career. The Argentinian international has won practically everything in his Club and International career already. He was an integral part of La Albiceleste’s 2022 World Cup-winning campaign. Yet, club level he has always been found on the bench more than in the Starting Lineup. The reason for that is the presence of Erling Haaland in the 2023 Quadruple-winning team.
In his first two seasons at the club, Alvarez has found it increasingly difficult to make a place for himself in the starting lineup. Last season he recorded 54 appearances for Man City. But that number is quite misleading without context. Firstly, Alvarez played so many matches because of Erling Haaland’s and Kevin De Bruyne’s injuries. KDB was out for most of the season and thanks to Julian’s ability to drop deep and find space between the defensive line, Pep Guardiola used him as a drifting piece in City’s attacking line. Sometimes he was employed as an out-and-out Striker to make up for Haaland’s absence.
Now with Haaland and KDB back in action and regaining their best form, Alvarez will find it difficult to find a place in City’s starting lineup. Moreover, Pep has always turned a blind eye to Alvarez in the most important matches in City’s campaign. Last season in the very crucial match against Arsenal, Alvarez did not get any minutes on the pitch. He has further found himself amongst the substitutes in important matches. Like the games against Madrid, Inter, Newcastle, Arsenal, etc.
It’s fair to say that it’s time for Julian Alvarez to move on and find greener pastures. This has led to the recent transfer rumours linking the City forward. Pep in a recent interview suggested that Alvarez should maybe “think about it”(about staying at City), and not make a move away from the Club. But then Alvarez replied to his manager’s words in an interview with TYC Sports.
Alvarez stated, “I heard what Guardiola said. I don’t have much to say about it. I never said anything bad. I just said that I was going to think about it like I do every season to make an analysis of what happened last season, a projection of what may come. I always say that I am comfortable and happy at City, which is a great club. So I didn’t say anything bad.”
It’s clear that Julian Alvarez is highly talented. At Manchester City, his abilities find a way to be stunted because of the way the team plays, and that’s to maximise Haaland’s ability to score goals and De Bruyne’s ability to provide. In this system, Julian Alvarez will always remain a supporting act. And to be very honest, a player with the calibre of Julian Alvarez deserves much more than that.
