Why Pep Guardiola Didn't Sign a Replacement for Julian Alvarez This Summer

Manchester City made a huge splash in the transfer market last summer, but it wasn’t just about bringing in new faces. The club also made headlines by selling Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for a record £81 million. This move came just two-and-a-half years after they signed him for only £15 million. However, what caught many by surprise was City’s decision not to replace Alvarez with a new striker.

As the January transfer window approaches, it’s clear that Manchester City’s decision to leave their striker position unchanged was based on a couple of key factors—most notably, Pep Guardiola’s confidence in his squad and tactics.

According to recent reports from The Athletic, Guardiola made the decision not to buy a new striker because he felt the team had enough depth in midfield to cover for any potential gaps. He believed that with players like Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and others in the midfield, City could effectively use a “false nine” system if needed.

Guardiola’s confidence in his midfield options seemed to outweigh the need for an additional forward. This strategy worked well for City in the past, as the team has been known to thrive without a traditional striker in certain matches.

However, injuries to key players have complicated this approach. Midfielders like Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Mateo Kovacic have all faced injury setbacks this season. As a result, Guardiola has had to adjust his tactics, which has limited his ability to deploy players like Foden and Silva in the false-nine role. In fact, there were reports in August that De Bruyne was even considered for a striker role in the absence of Alvarez.

This change in plans has left Manchester City struggling at times, and currently, the team finds itself eight points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race. If City’s form doesn’t improve and their injury woes continue, they may need to enter the market for reinforcements when the transfer window opens in January.

With the January window fast approaching, Guardiola’s team might need to make some adjustments. If injuries persist or the gap between City and the league leaders grows, strengthening the squad should be a top priority. A backup striker and potentially a new goalkeeper could be on City’s scout list as they aim to keep their title hopes alive.