Manchester City's coach spoke about the departure of the Argentine forward, now a key player for Atlético de Madrid, and recalled his role during the treble-winning season
In the lead-up to the match between Manchester City and Everton in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola addressed one of the topics that brings him the most nostalgia since the last transfer window: the departure of Julián Álvarez. The Spanish coach admitted that he'd like "to have" the Argentine forward "back again," who is currently shining at Atlético de Madrid.
During the press conference, Guardiola reviewed the strength of the squad that achieved the historic treble in the 2022/2023 season. When mentioning the quality of the players who were not regular starters at that time, he stated: "The year of the treble, do you remember the players I left on the bench? Aymeric Laporte, an unbelievable center back and a starter for the national team, Julián and others I'd love to have now, but they wanted to play more and left."
Laporte y Julián se fueron por falta de minutos
This way, the Catalan coach acknowledged that squad depth was one of the keys to success and, at the same time, explained the reasons behind the Argentine striker's departure.
Álvarez left City in the 2024 transfer window for Atlético de Madrid, in a transfer close to 75 million euros, after failing to establish himself as a starter due to competition with Erling Haaland, City's undisputed number 9. Guardiola explained: "Julián had to compete with Erling, which was something top. That's why he's now at one of the best teams in the world, with a world-class coach and teammates, and he's doing incredibly well. Now I'd love to have him, but I understand."
Julián competía con Haaland en el City
Guardiola also recalled other players who followed a similar path, such as Aymeric Laporte, who also left the club despite his importance in winning the treble. During his time with the citizen squad, Álvarez scored 36 goals and provided 19 assists in 103 matches, numbers that reflect his influence even when he started as an alternative.
The Spanish coach concluded his remarks with a reflection on the departure of key figures: "Sometimes, players need new challenges. I regret not having them, but I understand their decisions."
Julián's numbers
The present of the former River player at the Colchonero is brilliant. In the current season, he has seven goals and three assists in nine official matches between LaLiga and the Champions League, establishing himself as one of the key players in Diego Simeone's team. In his first year in Madrid, he had already recorded 29 goals and 8 assists in 57 appearances, confirming his rapid adaptation.
