Manchester City struggled in 2024/25, and there were several factors why that was the case.
The loss of Rodri was hugely detrimental, as the world-class Spaniard is Manchester City’s most important player.
With him on the sidelines, teams could then run through City like we haven’t really ever seen before, while Pep Guardiola has been at the helm.
But there was also a case of City just struggling to break teams down.
Erling Haaland still scored 31 goals across all competitions. But there were plenty of times when City simply couldn’t get the ball to their number nine.
Certainly in the first half of the season, it was only him who was scoring, with the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Savinho all failing to chip in.
More Man City News
Arguably, City actually ended up really missing Julian Alvarez in 2024/25 – and his trajectory since leaving the Etihad Stadium has wowed Thierry Henry.
Thierry Henry blown away by Julian Alvarez’s progression since leaving Man City
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Alvarez left City last summer to join Atletico Madrid in an £80 million transfer deal.
At the time, that sale was seen as a very good one by City, and Txiki Begiristain was praised by the masses.
Realistically, City just couldn’t turn down such a fee, for a player who had not been a regular starter for months.
But arguably, City missed his output and versatility in 2024/25 – and Atletico Madrid are certainly benefitting from having him now.
And Thierry Henry has lavished praise on the Argentina international.
In a discussion about strikers that could take Arsenal to the next level in a new video on The Overlap, he said: “I will be honest with you. One of my favourite nines out there at the minute is Julian Alvarez.
“We’ve been talking about it. Putting pressure, playing alone, low, whatever you want to do. Did you see the free-kick he scored the other day? He can hold the ball long.
“He played at the Olympic Games, he played the Copa America. I don’t hear him saying ‘I’m tired, I’m not tired’. Hopefully nothing bad is going to happen to him, (but) he played everything. The way he plays, I just like him. Is it possible? I don’t know.”
Henry isn’t the only one who hopes to see Alvarez make a move this summer.
Enzo Fernandez admitted he’d love Chelsea to sign Alvarez, with the Blues needing a number nine just like Arsenal.
Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images
Why Julian Alvarez actually left Man City
Atleti paid a huge fee for Alvarez, but 29 goals and seven assists in 54 appearances in his first season suggest that he’s well on his way to repaying that.
Ultimately, there wasn’t much City could really do to prevent Alvarez from leaving.
The money offered was huge, and Alvarez was keen to move on, with the player citing the need for a new challenge after two years at the club.
Julian Alvarez for Man City (2022-2024)
Appearances – 103
Goals – 36
Assists – 19
Trophies won – 6
He said (as quoted by BeIN Sports): “I needed something different. Something inside me told me that I had to seek a new challenge.”
Alvarez also stated that a conversation he had with Diego Simeone convinced him to join.
“When I spoke with Cholo before the Olympic Games, he convinced me, he added. “He told me a lot about the club, not just about this season, but also about the coming years. And well… I liked it.”