Frustrated Man City star ‘wants to leave’ amid Erling Haaland frustrations as two sources fan Barcelona transfer flames
Manchester City face a summer battle to retain the services of a striker amid claims he is frustrated by his lack of first-team action under Pep Guardiola this season.
The Cityzens are currently second in the Premier League and can also move into the FA Cup quarter-finals if they overcome Bristol City on Tuesday. In addition, they also hope to progress to the last eight of the Champions League with their round of 16 tie against RB Leipzig delicately poised.
However, despite putting themselves in position for a successful end to the season, not all seems well at City behind the scenes. Indeed, there are growing whispers about the change in style the club has been forced to adopt following the signing of Erling Haaland. Indeed, Jamie Carragher went as far as suggesting that Haaland may have chosen the wrong club in joining City.
Worse still, a report claims Guardiola ‘never wanted’ Haaland in the first place, amid growing talk a ‘divorce’ between the striker and City is on the cards.
However, Guardiola has since gone to great lengths to dismiss the claims. Furthermore, Ben Jacobs has provided an update on Haaland’s long-term City future detailing what Guardiola thinks about the star.
One man who has been largely overlooked, though, since Haaland came in is Julian Alvarez. Signing initially in January 2022, the Argentina striker’s move to City was delayed until the summer. That allowed him to finish his season with River Plate.
As a result, Guardiola has found himself with two new strikers to fit into his side this season.
Julian Alvarez pushing to leave City – report
Indeed, Alvarez has been limited to just 13 starts in all competitions for the Blues. In that time, he has however managed nine goals and two assists to underline his qualities.
However, despite figuring in 29 games altogether, Alvarez is reportedly frustrated at his lack of regular minutes for City.
Given he is playing second fiddle to a striker who already has 33 goals to his name, it’s easy to see why his minutes are limited.
But reports in Spain claim the World Cup winner does not see it that way and is agitating for more regular action.
And journalist Cesar Luis Merlo has taken it one step further by suggesting Alvarez is potentially looking to move on.
City, for their part, are reportedly keen to tie Alvarez to a new deal. His current arrangement expires in 2027 and City reportedly want to extend that and reward the striker with a rise.
However, Merlo claims Alvarez wants some guarantees over more first-team minutes before committing. As such, he is also reportedly exploring a possible exit to Barcelona.
Merlo claims that Alvarez has let it be known to Guardiola that, if his situation does not improve, then he will push to leave this summer.
Spanish daily, Sport, claims as a result that the conditions could ‘ideal’ to take Alvarez to the Nou Camp. The paper claims Barcelona have already registered their interest with City over a summer move.
Furthermore, they claim a season’s loan deal could prove the ideal solution for all parties. Barcelona were on the striker’s trail prior to his move to City and have reportedly been tracking his situation since.
Barcelona rumours gathering pace
A second journalist, Dario Montero, takes talk of Alvarez’s frustrations even further. And he claims Alvarez will ask to leave City this summer due to his growing frustrations.
And, speaking to El Chiringuito TV, he says the move could even become a permanent deal, rather than on loan.
With rumours of a move to Barcelona gathering pace, Montero says Alvarez will ‘ask the club to sell him’. Furthermore, he also suggests Alvarez has already decided he ‘wants to leave’.
The reports at this stage should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. However, it is another potentially-unwelcome headache for Guardiola to solve, having only just addressed speculation over Haaland’s future too.
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