This is why Julian Alvarez left Man City, his stance on sensational return revealed
Julian Alvarez has no plans to return to Man City this summer as he does not want to be stuck behind Erling Haaland in their attacking pecking order once again.
Pep Guardiola previously admitted that he would welcome Alvarez back at Man City after he left for Atletico Madrid, but several factors will dissuade him from returning anytime soon.
The Argentina international left for more game time, after playing second fiddle to Haaland, while he was also known to not be keen on the weather in Manchester.
Alvarez scored 36 goals in 103 games for City between 2022 and 2024, and was a key part of their 2022-23 treble-winning side.
He has scored regularly for Atletico since joining 18 months ago, and as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, it seems highly unlikely that he will be a City player once more this summer.
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Julian Alvarez has no plans to return to Man City for numerous reasons
Alvarez is a regular starter for the Spanish giants in La Liga and Champions League matches, with 13 goals and seven assists in 38 appearances so far this season.
He has been heavily linked to Arsenal ahead of this summer, and while that move could happen, a return to the Etihad is not believed to be on the cards.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I would say it’s probably very highly unlikely (that he moves back to Man City).
“I’m sure City possibly would look at it because he’s such a top player, Julian Alvarez, he’s really impressed at Atletico Madrid, but one of the main reasons he left City to join Atletico was that he wanted regular first-team football.
“He wasn’t getting that at Man City, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and everybody else ahead of him in the pecking order.
“I don’t think he would want to come back and find himself playing a fringe role again.
“He wasn’t too happy with the weather in Manchester either, (that) was another key reason for him moving away to the Spanish capital.”
James Trafford is prioritising a move to Aston Villa over Newcastle
Another player who could leave City this summer is England goalkeeper Trafford, even though he only returned from a spell at Burnley last year.
He looked set to be their first-choice keeper this season following his move, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival has restricted him to 11 appearances across several competitions so far.
Talk around a possible summer exit has ramped up after he went public with his grievances about a lack of playing time, and Football Insider have revealed that Trafford would prefer to join Aston Villa over Newcastle if he is to leave City soon.