Leaving an elite side in Manchester City has actually benefitted a few players in recent years.
Cole Palmer has blossomed into a superstar since his £42.5m move to Chelsea in September 2023, while Liam Delap has also now moved to Stamford Bridge in a £30m deal after departing Manchester City for Ipswich in July 2024.
However, walking away from the Etihad Stadium typically does not help advance a career, as the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kyle Walker will tell you – all of whom have faded out of the limelight.
Julian Alvarez is another player now struggling after leaving Manchester City – according to Matias Palacios.
People close to Julian Alvarez think swapping Manchester City for Atletico Madrid was a “mistake”
The respected journalist – who has previously interviewed the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona – sat down with El Chiringuito to reveal the latest on the Argentina international.
Palacios said: “Julian Alvarez’s entourage believe he made a mistake in signing for Atletico Madrid due to Diego Simeone’s handling of the team.
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“They tell me they felt sorry for Julian. Seeing him like this. He was substituted during the break, chasing full-backs last season… He scored a lot of goals, but the manager never gave him the respect he deserves. The analysis is one of resignation.”
Alvarez – who Thierry Henry adores – scored 29 goals and provided eight assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for Atletico Madrid last season, following his £82m move from Manchester City in August 2024.
However, it seems this excellent return has not been enough to appease Simeone, based on what Palacios claims.
Julian Alvarez has not found what he told Pep Guardiola he wanted
The South American seemingly wanted to leave Manchester City to become a talismanic striker elsewhere, having failed to do that in England due to the presence of Erling Haaland.
Guardiola said Alvarez wanted a “new challenge” and recognised his lack of starts, saying at the time of the attacker’s departure: “I don’t know the (exact) reason why (he wanted to leave)- he said to me he wants a new challenge, he feels it’s what he needs to do.
“Last season he played a lot, at some moments with Erling but I understand in certain moments he didn’t play.”
Alvarez did well for Manchester City – scoring 36 goals in 103 appearances and helping the Citizens win a historic treble in 2023 – so if he really is feeling unsettled in Madrid, it would be a sad development.