Pep Guardiola: Julian Alvarez transfer depends on Man City striker

Manchester City head Pep Guardiola has said Julian Alvarez will determine connected a imaginable transportation distant from nan nine aft remarks by nan Argentina striker that he wants to play successful “important games” and will “think astir what I want for myself”.

Only apical scorer Erling Haaland and playmaker Bernardo Silva played much minutes than Alvarez past play among City’s attackers, but nan 24-year-old appears to beryllium disappointment astatine his removal from nan starting line-up successful nan Uefa Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid, FA Cup last against Manchester United and Premier League run-in.

“He played a lot,” Guardiola said, speaking connected City’s US tour. “If he wants more, it’s fine. That’s why [he should] deliberation astir it.

“I don’t deliberation astir replacing [him] but I knew that he said that he’s going to deliberation astir it. And erstwhile he has [had a] deliberation astir it, he will pass us.”

🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️ pic.twitter.com/CkNJHQdkYh

— Manchester City (@ManCityPT) November 2, 2022

Alvarez: Argentina striker to ‘take time’

Guardiola added that he expected Alvarez’s representatives to telephone City head of shot Txiki Begiristain pinch Alvarez’s decision.

“Last play I was 1 of nan players pinch nan astir minutes astatine City,” acknowledged Alvarez, via Ole, speaking astatine nan Olympic Games, wherever he is successful action pinch his country.

“In nan end, you don’t for illustration to beryllium near retired of important games. You want to contribute. I will return my clip to deliberation astir what I want for myself.”

Alvarez, who signed a one-year statement hold successful March 2023 to support him astatine City until 2028, has helped Argentina triumph nan 2024 Copa America this summertime and is apt to characteristic successful his 3rd lucifer of nan Paris Games erstwhile they look Ukraine successful Lyon connected Tuesday.

“I told [City] I wanted to beryllium [at nan Olympics],” he said, explaining that nan nine “wanted to prioritise rest”. “I fought for it and I’m happy. I understand nan nine [perspective] because we played a batch of games.”

He has a scheme 🫡 pic.twitter.com/N8yMjHfaOu

— Selección Argentina successful English (@AFASeleccionEN) July 29, 2024

Julian Alvarez stats

City signed Alvarez for 17 cardinal euros (£14.1m) successful January 2022 from Argentine broadside River Plate, wherever he remained connected indebtedness initially, making his Cityzens debut successful July 2022.

He produced 17 goals and 5 assists successful 49 appearances for City successful his first campaign. In his second, Alvarez scored 19 times and group up 13 goals.

Alvarez was almost ever-present for City successful nan convention successful 2023/24 until mid-February but started only 2 of their 10 Champions League matches, playing 33 minutes successful full crossed nan 2 legs against Madrid.

Having played only 17 minutes crossed their erstwhile 3 Premier League games – scoring doubly – Alvarez was an unused substitute erstwhile City clinched nan title connected nan last time of nan play against West Ham United.

The 2021 South American Footballer of nan Year was not straight progressive successful immoderate FA Cup goals aft nan 3rd information of City’s run and played for 34 minutes successful their astonishment 2-1 conclusion to Manchester United successful nan final.

City want 70 cardinal euros (£59m) for Alvarez this summertime and performance-related bonuses and add-ons worthy a further 20m euros (£16.8m), according to City Xtra.