For the first time in his young yet remarkable career, Julián Álvarez has concluded a season without lifting any silverware. His inaugural year with Atlético Madrid saw him consistently involved and scoring many important goals, but it was within a less dominant environment compared to the trophy-laden landscape he experienced at Manchester City.
The Argentine`s journey thus far has been marked by an impressive collection of successes. With River Plate, where he emerged between 2019 and 2021, he secured the Copa Libertadores, Liga Profesional, Supercopa Argentina, and Recopa Sudamericana. After moving to Manchester City in 2022, he quickly amassed trophies over two seasons, including a Champions League, two Premier Leagues, an FA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a Club World Cup, and a Community Shield. On the international stage with Argentina, he celebrated victories in the Copa América 2021, the 2022 World Cup, and the Finalissima against Italy.
This streak of winning at least one trophy per season came to an end in the 2023/24 campaign. Álvarez had left City in pursuit of a more central, protagonist role, accepting the approach from Atlético Madrid and his fellow countryman Diego Simeone. It represented an ambitious project, albeit less proven than Guardiola`s highly-tuned machine. The outcome? No titles, a Liga season that lacked sparkle, a Champions League exit in the round of 16 (including a notable penalty miss in the shootout), and limited success in domestic cup competitions like the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España. The question is now unavoidable: Was leaving Manchester City the right decision? At 25, `La Araña` is undoubtedly one of the most formidable players currently playing, but there`s a strong impression that he might not be in the ideal situation to fully leverage his talent.
