Nahuel Molina, on Manchester City's radar under Pep Guardiola for 2026
Molina is on City's shortlist for next season
porEditorial Team
Argentina
The World Cup-winning full-back is going through a difficult time at Atlético Madrid and could find in the Premier League the opportunity to get playing time again
For the selection of the squad list, Lionel Scaloni was clear: no one has a guaranteed spot in the Argentina National Team, least of all Lionel Messi. Every player must maintain their level at their club to earn a place in upcoming drafts. In that context, Nahuel Molina is currently experiencing an uncomfortable situation at Atlético de Madrid, where he has lost ground with Cholo Simeone and is seeing his prominence decrease with each match.
The right back, a direct rival of Gonzalo Montiel in the national team, is no longer a starter for the Colchonero team and is now behind Marcos Llorente in the pecking order. In fact, in some matches, Giuliano Simeone has played on his flank. That lack of continuity has raised concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where the former Boca player hopes to arrive in form and with confidence.
Molina no está sumando minutos en el Atlético
In recent hours, the British outlet TEAMtalk revealed that Manchester City is closely monitoring his situation. Pep Guardiola is looking to strengthen the right side of the defense and believes that Molina possesses the ideal technical and tactical qualities for his system. Furthermore, Atlético de Madrid would be willing to negotiate due to his limited playing time, which would facilitate a possible transfer for a reasonable fee.
Moving to the Premier League would represent a change of scenery and a competitive leap for the defender, who has played just 144 minutes this season (he has started in only one of the nine matches played). Since his arrival at the club in 2022, he has accumulated 141 appearances, seven goals, and thirteen assists, but his current role is far from what he had after the triumph in Qatar.
Molina fue titular en un solo partido en la temporada
It should be noted that this is not the first time Molina's name has been linked to English football. In the last transfer window, he was mentioned at Nottingham Forest, although the deal did not go through. Now, with City searching for defensive alternatives and a World Cup on the horizon, this change of direction could give his career the boost it needs.
