Speculation surrounding Julian Alvarez's future at Manchester City has taken center stage this summer.
It is fair to say that City have hit gold on Alvarez. The 24-year-old cost just £14 million ($18m) in 2022, but superb performances for club and country have seen his market value shoot up in a very short amount of time.
Despite playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland, or out of position to accommodate the Norwegian goal machine, the Argentine has gone on to score 36 goals in 103 appearances for the Premier League champions in all competitions. That includes 11 goals and nine assists in 36 games in England's top flight last season.
Despite all of this, there is a possibility that Alvarez has played his final game for City amid growing uncertainty around his future.
The former River Plate star has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid this summer, and speaking during the Olympics, the player revealed that a decision will need to be made about his future in potential showdown talks with Pep Guardiola early next month.
In an interview translated by All About Argentina, Alvarez expressed his frustrations about being left out for high-stakes matches.
The World Cup winner said: "I haven't stopped to think about what I'm going to do. When this [Argentina men's football campaign at the Olympics] is over I'll start thinking about what I want for myself. We'll see how things go.
"Last season I was one of the players who played the most minutes in the team. But it's true: in the end, in important games, you don't like being left out and you want to contribute."
This comes after a report by Sam Lee from The Athletic revealed that the Argentine international is eager to find a club in a warmer climate and is seeking more playing time.
At a press conference to preview City's friendly against Barcelona in Orlando, Guardiola addressed Alvarez's situation and the 24-year-old's comments.
"I knew that he [Alvarez] said that he is going to think about it," Guardiola said.
"When he finishes thinking about it, his agent is going to call [City football director] Txiki [Begiristain] and we are going to see what happens. I know he wants to play in important moments but the others [do] too. I have 18 or 19 players that want to play important games.
"He played a lot but if he wants more, it's fine. When he thinks about it he'll inform us."
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Should Julian Alvarez leave Man City?
Alvarez's future at Manchester City remains in limbo, despite his recent comments addressing the situation. The Argentine forward's hectic summer schedule, which included a triumphant Copa America campaign and his current involvement in the Olympics, has left him little time to ponder his next move.
Alvarez's remarks hold some truth. The World Cup winner spent most of last season as a mainstay in the starting XI as a result of injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
But once De Bruyne returned and Phil Foden began to thrive in central areas, minutes became harder to come by for the former River Plate starlet. Haaland, City's undisputed first-choice striker, is the preferred option for manager Pep Guardiola in crucial encounters.
Given Haaland's pedigree and phenomenal scoring feats, Guardiola's decision is understandable. It's clear to see why Alvarez would feel frustrated by these circumstances, but it's unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. The harsh reality is that Haaland will always be Manchester City's go-to striker in big games.
Given this fact, it wouldn't be surprising to see Alvarez eventually push for a move away from the Etihad.
He boasts a stunning medal collection that could make even legends of the game green with envy. It includes two Premier Leagues, a Champions League, a World Cup, and two Copas America.
Alvarez has proven himself to be a clutch player, rising to the occasion when it matters most. Over the past 18 months, he has made big contributions in big matches, scoring to crown a dominant Champions League semi-final win against Real Madrid, netting two goals and providing an assist in the 2022 World Cup semifinal against Croatia, and most recently, shining in the Copa America semi-final against Canada.
As a proven performer on the biggest stage, he can't really be blamed for potentially looking at leaving Man City this summer.
He's in a tricky situation at as he won't likely start ahead of stars like De Bruyne, Foden, or Haaland. However, he would certainly be a first-choice player for most other elite clubs across Europe.
Alvarez could consider sticking it out for another season to see how things unfold. Injuries to key players or potential departures (both Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne have been linked with moves but nothing is likely to materialise on that front this summer) could open up opportunities for him to secure a starting role.
MORE: Pep Guardiola drops hint over Manchester City future
Man City should do everything in power to keep hold of Alvarez
Pep Guardiola has time and again reiterated that he or the club will not stand in the way of a player who wants to leave. But we want them to buck that policy in Alvarez's case, and for good reason.
La Arana leaving Man City would be an enormous blow. The month of July is about to end, and it could leave City in a tricky spot to get a replacement in.
Not only does the Argentine superstar stand out among the next-gen footballers, but he also fits in smoothly with the club's formidable line-up.
This is reflected in City's reported asking price of around £60 million ($77m), plus an additional £17 million ($22m) in performance-related add-ons. They are aware that many clubs may struggle to meet that financial demand, even though they would be signing one of the best strikers in world football.