According to The Athletic, a forward is keen on getting more playing time and moving to a warmer climate, but Manchester City’s valuation of approximately £60 million ($77 million), plus an additional £17 million ($22 million) in future add-ons, might pose a challenge.
Atletico Madrid, showing strong interest in the player, disagrees with City’s high demands and may back out of any potential deal if further negotiations don’t lead to a reduced asking price from the Premier League champions.
The forward, Alvarez, has traveled to Paris to compete in the Summer Olympics for Argentina after participating in the Copa America.
This busy schedule could deter Pep Guardiola from granting him a starting position in the early stages of the 2024-25 season. Alvarez’s situation is further complicated by the fact that he hasn’t had a substantial break in three years due to commitments with both club and country.
In recent times, City has shown a willingness to allow players to leave if they desire, as seen with Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s transfers to Arsenal.
However, they are cautious with key players, who are harder to replace on short notice, creating challenges for potential buyers. Last summer, City blocked the departures of Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva, indicating their careful approach to managing player transfers.
City’s financial prudence regarding significant assets is evident again. They are expected to stand firm on their valuation of Alvarez, who has reportedly turned down a four-year contract extension offer.
This stance might result in Alvarez staying at the Etihad as a backup to the prolific striker Erling Haaland for at least another year.
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