Pep Guardiola has overseen the departures of young stars like Cole Palmer and Morgan Rodgers, but ex-England midfielder Joe Cole believes Alvarez was the real loss.
Man City accepted an £80m bid for Alvarez, as he played second fiddle to Erling Haaland, but his sensational performances in Spain now make that move look questionable.
With 22 goals this season, Alvarez has been instrumental in Atletico’s push for the La Liga title and their impressive run in the Champions League knockout rounds.
His stunning goal against Real Madrid in the last-16 clash caught the eye of Joe Cole, who described it as ‘beautiful’ and backed Alvarez to win a future Ballon d’Or.
Former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher also heaped praise on Alvarez, highlighting his confidence and form, calling him a ‘top player’ with world-class potential.
Even after Atletico’s narrow defeat in the first leg, Alvarez remains optimistic, insisting the tie is far from over and that his team can bounce back on home soil.
As Atletico Madrid fights for both European and domestic glory, Alvarez’s performances are proving why Manchester City may have made a costly mistake in selling him.