Alvarez done deal - £82m to Atletico

[Keeper!]

What statement? Ta

On social media stating he is concentrating on the olympics, having a holiday and then see how things are.

For me it's very stage managed and he has an offer on the table from someone.

 

[Haaland94]

On social media stating he is concentrating on the olympics, having a holiday and then see how things are.

For me it's very stage managed and he has an offer on the table from someone.

Does he have an offer, though? What I mean is Atletico willing to pay what we want for Julian? That's the key here, IMO.

 

[Keeper!]

Does he have an offer, though? What I mean is Atletico willing to pay what we want for Julian? That's the key here, IMO.

You don't put out the statements he and his reps are if you don't.

 

[JewelZee]

Some people are putting down Alvarez as a striker and he is not, But for me, he's best in a false 9
Pep needs to find him a place in the team with a system with Haaland

At whose expense tho?

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

You don't put out the statements he and his reps are if you don't.

You do if your trying to force a move and agitate. Not saying he's doing that but maybe his agent or someone else might be trying to give this legs .

We are consistently good and handling these issues. If we get the money we should it will happen. Any attempt to low ball will just be ignored.

 

[ancoats]

I knew that he [Álvarez] said that he is going to think about it," Guardiola said.

When he finishes thinking about it, his agent is going to call [City football director] Txiki [Begiristain] and we are going to see what happens. I know he wants to play in important moments but the others [do] too. I have 18 or 19 players that want to play important games.

"He played a lot but if he wants more, it's fine. When he thinks about it he'll inform us."

Maybe it’s only me but he sounds bit annoyed with the Alvarez quotes. He didn’t exactly perform at a high level for most of last season. If anything he had too many games. He wasn’t producing so was not starting the big matches.

Anything over £80 would be great.

Yep

Pep says if you do not want to be here it's ok you can leave, The Price Tag will be set and I don't see any reason for any wiggle room in the asking price. £80million is the minimum

 

[JewelZee]

I imagine Guardiola’s pissed off because he went out of his way to give him minutes, often to the detriment of the team, by playing him almost as an 8 last season.

It’s a shame if this is how it ends, but a parting of the ways is looking pretty likely at the moment.

That's exactly what I think. It's almost like Pep is admitting he "gave" Julian minutes as a reward for stepping in during Kevin's absence. And it's a clear statement of dissatisfaction by Julian regarding his role in the run up post the Arsenal game. Pep may think he's a bit of an ingrate and that Julian could have voiced his concerns in private to him directly, not to the media.

As someone who has followed Pep's career as a manager closely over its entirety one sure thing that will get you on his shit list is complaining about playing time. He sees that as a direct challenge to his decision making, which basically it is. Cancelo is too obvious of an example, but look at Riyad. When Pep started making references at his press conferences about Mahrez not being happy with his playing time he was off to Saudi shortly thereafter.

I'm not saying players don't have a right to do or say what they believe is best for them, but one needs to understand the ramifications of such actions. It takes a special, certain type of mindset to play for a Pep Guardiola team, one that many times prioritizes the collective over one's own individual goals and desires. Look at Phil for example. If anyone has had the opportunity to raise issues over his selection and usage it would be him. But he's never once made any public complaints or been known to display unhappiness in the workplace. (Unless someone considers him identifying his preferred position a "complaint" which it is not).

Bottom line is Pep is the boss. Either you are all in or you are OUT. Being IN. but on your own terms, is not an option. That's as good as being out. There is no "I'd like to stay, but on my terms".

Unless there is an impasse on the financial side of things Julian is as good as gone. It's the way Pep operates and his record has long earned him that right. It's why I never go in for the we can't let this guy or that guy go uproar that many fans resort to when certain players are tipped to be leaving. Pep knows what's best for his sides and anyone who is unhappy at the club is free to go providing there is a fair deal on the table.

They can all come back to the following season's parade as guests too. I'm sure there are no hard feelings...

 

[MCFC ISRAEL]

People here who think we will get 80 million for him probably didn't understand how it works. If Alvarez was playing for another club and City wanted to buy him, then maybe the price would have been 80, probably even more. When City sells, especially a player who is unhappy and wants to leave (and I'm not saying Alvarez said that) then the price won't be over 50. That's the reality unfortunately.

It's not a market-breaking amount, and there is no player I can think of who would come as a replacement for that amount and can give a similar numbers and work rate+ understand that he is the second striker after Haaland, so I think we should keep Alvarez with us for at least another year. He has an upgraded contract which he signed willingly, see no reason to talk about release now

 

[hcblue95]

Context matters. He didn't say anything bad.

Agree tbh he said nothing bad there at all. If Pep is pissed off it will be stuff going on in the background (perhaps more from his agent than him), not those quotes.

 

[N1985]

If he goes we'll replace him with somebody equally as good. Cracking little player

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

If he goes we'll replace him with somebody equally as good. Cracking little player

think we move Bobb to the backup 9 and stick with forwards as they are

 

[kaz7]

He has won a shed load of trophies so he should go without cunting comments

 

[Middedon]

Agree tbh he said nothing bad there at all. If Pep is pissed off it will be stuff going on in the background (perhaps more from his agent than him), not those quotes.

Agreed, someone needs to post this on every page so people who are shitting on him actually listen to him. He said he’s happy! And he says it’s “more what people say online than anything I feel.” There is nothing controversial here. Some of our very favorite players have said the very same thing when they’ve been left out of big games.

 

[super_city_si]

I knew that he [Álvarez] said that he is going to think about it," Guardiola said.

When he finishes thinking about it, his agent is going to call [City football director] Txiki [Begiristain] and we are going to see what happens. I know he wants to play in important moments but the others [do] too. I have 18 or 19 players that want to play important games.

"He played a lot but if he wants more, it's fine. When he thinks about it he'll inform us."

Maybe it’s only me but he sounds bit annoyed with the Alvarez quotes. He didn’t exactly perform at a high level for most of last season. If anything he had too many games. He wasn’t producing so was not starting the big matches.

Anything over £80 would be great.

Exactly, his form fell off a cliff end of season. Usually reliable shooting was awful.

 

[yankblue]

If he goes we'll replace him with somebody equally as good. Cracking little player

Maybe just with Oscar Bobb?

 

[supercity88]

I rate Alvarez really highly and he gives his all whenever he plays. But he's played a hell of a lot of football and like Jesus probably wants to play a starring role rather than being second fiddle. He only played so much last season because of the injuries we had really. And with the emergence of someone like Bobb and the addition of Savio you wonder if there's a need for Alvarez in any case. I'd love him to stay, I love his hunger and workrate and he's undoubtedly an excellent player. But equally I don't think he's irreplaceable if he does go.

 

[RayCTID]

Atleti do have a habit in splashing the cash when necessary. I don't see him staying in the Premier League this time around so no moves to Chelsea or Arsenal.

 

[hammersmithlad]

Well he's currently on Eurosport 5 now along with Otamendi playing against Ukraine if you lot want to catch him whilst he's still a City player!

 

[domalino]

Exactly, his form fell off a cliff end of season. Usually reliable shooting was awful.

I don't think a striker can be sharp and 2nd choice. And he's not going to displace Haaland, so he's no likely to be at his best. Look at Dzeko, Negredo, Jesus...as soon as they realise they're not going to be in the XI more often than not, confidence dips, the pressure when they do start goes up and they snatch at chances etc, that makes the confidence worse, pressure goes up again...

I wouldn't mind selling him as long as it's the right money and we get a replacement who is good enough to step in if Haaland is injured for 3/4 months. If he stays I suspect we'll be having the same conversations next year but the price will be 25% lower.

 

[Centurions]

People here who think we will get 80 million for him probably didn't understand how it works. If Alvarez was playing for another club and City wanted to buy him, then maybe the price would have been 80, probably even more. When City sells, especially a player who is unhappy and wants to leave (and I'm not saying Alvarez said that) then the price won't be over 50. That's the reality unfortunately.

It's not a market-breaking amount, and there is no player I can think of who would come as a replacement for that amount and can give a similar numbers and work rate+ understand that he is the second striker after Haaland, so I think we should keep Alvarez with us for at least another year. He has an upgraded contract which he signed willingly, see no reason to talk about release now

Fair try, I'm not rating your trolling any higher than that though.

Must try harder...