Atlético Madrid President’s Statement on Julian Alvarez Transfer Rumors Puts Smile Back on Manchester City Fans & Pep Guardiola’s Face

The future of Julian Alvarez is the million-dollar question for the Manchester City faithful. The Argentine played 54 games and scored 19 goals last season. But the truth was that Alvarez wasn’t a go-to man for Pep Guardiola, especially in the big matches. More often than not, it was Erling Haaland who was the preferred #9. If it wasn’t for the Norwegian’s injuries, Alvarez would have played even less. As such, alarm bells rang when Atletico Madrid was linked with Alvarez. Fans of Manchester City believed the Argentine star was off to Spain. Hence, Enrique Cerezo’s new update will delight everyone at the Etihad.

Enrique Cerezo, President of Atletico Madrid reportedly said, “Julian Alvarez is a Man City player, and I don’t think he’s going to move from there,” via @City_Xtra on X. With Barcelona and Real Madrid boasting stacked squads, moving to Spain might not be the best option for the attacker. But if the 24-year-old is to stay at the Etihad, then it leaves Pep Guardiola with a conundrum.

Although Alvarez is versatile, the likes of Haaland, Foden, Doku, and Grealish are the preferred options in the front 3. Hence, Guardiola selects the Argentine star mainly to rotate his players or as an option from the bench. Additionally, there are concerns about whether Alvarez is happy at the Etihad. A pundit previously said that Haaland’s presence means that the Argentine forward will never get his due recognition. While Atletico Madrid might be out of the picture, Alvarez is still not short on options. The rumor mill currently suggests that a Premier League giant is keen on signing the attacker.

Chelsea is interested in bringing Julian Alvarez to Stamford Bridge

A striker is a necessity for the Blues. At the end of last season, Pochettino’s only recognized forward was Nicolas Jackson, who stayed fit for most of the season. Hence, the transfer committee has singled out Julian Alvarez as a possible option. Alvarez already has Premier League experience and his versatility to play in multiple positions might help Enzo Maresca set up his playing XI. For the Argentine star, a move to Stamford Bridge means better chances to feature regularly.

But there is bound to be reluctance at the Etihad over the deal, mainly because of the Cole Palmer transfer. Palmer, who barely got opportunities at Manchester City, turned out to be an instant hit at Chelsea. In fact, the playmaker had 27 goals and 15 assists last season, becoming a sort of talisman of the club, beating the likes of Raheem Sterling, Reece James, and many more to a leadership role. So, from the other viewpoint, there is every chance that Julian Alvarez could turn out to be an absolute beast at the Blues too, who seem to be wanting quicker success, proven by the headline departure of Pochettino.

Do you think Chelsea is the right move for the attacker? Tell us below.