Julian Alvarez has played down uncertainty over his Manchester City future after manager Pep Guardiola said the striker’s representatives could make a transfer request to director of football Txiki Begiristain this summer.
Alvarez suggested on Monday that he is unsettled because of his lack of involvement in City’s most important games last season, leading Guardiola to respond by saying the striker should consider the situation.
“I don’t think about replacing [him] but I knew that he said he’s going to think about it,” Guardiola added. “And when he has [had a] think about it, he will inform us.”
El Sorprendente Julián Álvarez. 🕷️🇦🇷#CopaMundialFIFA | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/8bPmOnJHVn
— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 30, 2024
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Julian Alvarez news: ‘I am happy’
“I heard what Guardiola said,” the 24-year-old told TYC Sports. “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.”
Alvarez, who signed a one-year contract extension in March 2023 to keep him at City until 2028, has helped Argentina win the 2024 Copa America this summer and reach the quarter-finals of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in which they will face hosts France in the quarter-finals on Friday (20:00 BST).
🏆 @ManCity‘s Julian Alvarez already has an astounding list of achievements at 24 years old!
With Argentina through to the quarter-finals at #Paris2024, will he add an Olympic Gold Medal to these honours? pic.twitter.com/LfXi275ljC
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 30, 2024
Alvarez City minutes
The former River Plate prospect was almost ever-present for City in the league in 2023/24 until mid-February but started only two of their 10 Champions League matches, playing 33 minutes in total across their quarter-final against Madrid.
He was also excluded from the starting line-up in their surprise FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United and Premier League run-in, playing for 17 minutes across their final four top-flight games and scoring twice.
“Last season, I was one of the players with the most minutes at City,” Alvarez originally said, via Ole, speaking at the Olympic Games.
“In the end, you don’t like to be left out of important games. You want to contribute. I will take my time to think about what I want for myself.”
Alvarez transfer: Guardiola’s response
Replying during City’s US tour, Guardiola observed that Alvarez had “played a lot”. “If he wants more, it’s fine,” he said. “That’s why [he should] think about it.”
City signed Alvarez for 17 million euros (£14.1m) in January 2022 from Argentine side River Plate, where he remained on loan initially, making his Cityzens debut in July 2022.
The 2021 South American Footballer of the Year produced 17 goals and five assists in 49 appearances for City in his first campaign. In his second, Alvarez scored 19 times and set up 13 goals.
