Julian Alvarez Shines Brightly in Madrid After Departure from Manchester City

Julian Alvarez's move to Atletico Madrid in August has showcased his exceptional talent, leaving Manchester City to reflect on the impact of his departure. Even Pep Guardiola acknowledged the potential challenges his team might face without Alvarez, especially in light of injuries.

The 24-year-old Argentine, a World Cup champion, netted his 12th goal of the season during Atletico's 3-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava. Additionally, he contributed to two of Antoine Griezmann's goals, leading the Madrid team to their tenth consecutive win across all competitions.

While Alvarez's statistics may not yet rival those of Cole Palmer—who has been directly involved in 57 goals over 62 matches for Chelsea—his influence at Atletico is undeniable. In 24 appearances, Alvarez has recorded 12 goals and two assists, positioning Atletico just three points behind league leaders Barcelona in La Liga and 11th in the Champions League standings.

Manchester City, on the other hand, is grappling with form and fitness issues among key players such as Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, and Jérémy Doku. Erling Haaland has managed only four goals in the last ten matches, during which City secured just one win, bringing his season total to 18 goals. The next six players combined have added only three more goals.

In this season's Champions League, Alvarez has scored four goals, bringing his total to nine goals and three assists in 12 starts in the competition. To put this into perspective, his compatriot Lionel Messi required 24 Champions League matches to reach 12 goals.

Among players with over 1,000 minutes in the Champions League, only Haaland surpasses Alvarez, with a goal involvement every 78 minutes compared to Alvarez's 98 minutes per goal contribution. Since joining Manchester City from River Plate in 2022, Alvarez scored 36 goals and provided 18 assists in 103 appearances. Despite achieving two Premier League titles and a Champions League victory with City, the arrival of Haaland relegated him to a secondary role, prompting his request to leave the club.