A recent report this week suggests that Barcelona might be considering the option of pursuing Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez through an unexpected release clause in his contract. This information comes from the Spanish newspaper Sport, which asserts that Julian Alvarez has a €50 million release clause at Manchester City. This clause is believed to be in the favour of the Spanish giants.
Alvarez’s Impressive Run Of Form For Manchester City So Far This Season
The FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina last season only joined Man City in January 2022. Despite his relatively recent arrival, he has already extended his initial five-and-a-half-year contract by an additional 12 months as a recognition of his outstanding progress. In just 11 appearances across all competitions for the Sky Blues, he has scored six goals and provided four assists.
In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, the Argentine standout has proven to be reliable and consistent, with impressive statistics in the Premier League. He averages 0.8 tackles, 3.0 shots, 2.4 key passes, and 0.5 dribbles per game. Moreover, his passing accuracy in the English top flight stands at an impressive 85.3% (stats via whoscored).
What Should Guardiola Do If Barcelona Are To Activate The Release Clause Next Summer?
While Alvarez may have initially played a supporting role to Erling Haaland during his first season at the club, the current campaign has witnessed the striker’s ascent to new heights, primarily functioning in the attacking midfield position.
Julian Alvarez has now become a prominent choice in Pep Guardiola‘s lineup, and it appears he will continue to be a regular fixture in the starting XI until the return of Kevin De Bruyne, who is currently in the midst of an extended rehabilitation process.
Given the impressive contributions Alvarez has made in the absence of De Bruyne, Guardiola would have to confront the challenging task of strategizing for a potential future without the Argentine prodigy if the Spanish giants decide to activate the release clause and lure him away next summer. Although such a scenario might be enticing for Barcelona supporters, it appears highly improbable that the Argentine would entertain a move, given his strong rapport with Pep Guardiola.
