Julian Álvarez will be leaving Manchester City to join Atlético Madrid after Paris Saint-Germain failed to secure the Argentine. On Friday, Pep Guardiola confirmed the 24-year-old’s departure from the Premier League side.
ESPN reports that Álvarez is on his way to Atlético for a fee that could reach £82 million. The Argentina international has been an important player for Manchester City over the past two years, but Guardiola mentioned that the club isn’t in a position to prevent the transfer.
During his time in Manchester, he won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the FA Cup, but Guardiola hinted that the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner is looking to leave because he wants more opportunities to start.
“I don’t like to tell players what they have to do,” Guardiola said. “Contracts are nice but they can be broken. If you are not happy, why should you be here? … I don’t know the reason why. He said he wants a new challenge and he feels it is what he has to do.
“Last season he played a lot and in some moments he played with Erling [Haaland] but I understand in some important moments maybe he thought he was going to play. I respect him a lot.”
In the 2023-24 season, the 24-year-old appeared in 54 matches for Manchester City, scoring 19 goals and providing 13 assists. His impressive performance suggests he is eager for a more consistent role in the starting lineup, and it seems he may find that opportunity with Los Colchoneros.
