It's rare to hear Pep Guardiola express regret. The Spaniard, renowned for his rigor and absolute demands, often assumes responsibility for every sporting decision taken during his time at Manchester City. However, on the eve of the trip against Everton, the Catalan technician surprised by confiding that he would dream of bringing back a former protégé. A player he describes as
“amazing”, who left last summer and whose performances in Spain continue to remind him of what he has lost.
Julian Alvarez, Guardiola’s assumed regret
This player is Julian Alvarez. The Argentinian international, 2022 world champion, left Manchester City last summer to join Atlético de Madrid, tired of a secondary role behind Erling Haaland. Despite 11 goals and 9 assists during his last season at the Etihad, the former River Plate wanted more continuity. And he found an ideal context in Madrid: six goals in eight La Liga days, a performance that even impressed his former coach. Guardiola admitted this bluntly:
“Julian is great. He is performing incredibly at Atlético. Maybe I would like to still have him, but I understand why he left.”
Under the orders of Diego Simeone, Alvarez has reached an additional milestone. In a second striker role, he combines volume, intelligence and realism, sometimes reminiscent of the young Sergio Agüero. His 17 goals last season and his current consistency already make him a reference in the Spanish championship. In Manchester, his departure left a void: no replacement was able to reproduce his offensive contribution or his energy in pressing.
Guardiola and Alvarez: a story of regret and admiration
The impact of his absence on Manchester City
Deprived of a real second center forward, City had to tinker between Savinho, Gundogan who returned as reinforcement and the winter arrival of Omar Marmoush. But none has established itself in the long term. And Guardiola knows it: Alvarez represented this rare profile, capable of playing both with and without Haaland. His departure weakened the Citizens' offensive rotation, already weakened by successive injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri.
If a return remains hypothetical, the esteem between the two men remains intact. Guardiola has never hidden his affection for Alvarez, symbol of total football where self-sacrifice meets talent. The Catalan knows that he cannot control everything – not even the trajectories he himself initiated. But seeing the Argentinian shine in Madrid, he half-heartedly recognizes what few coaches of his caliber admit: certain separations leave a void that even trophies do not fill.
