Álvarez, who serves as captain of the Mexico national team, endured a challenging end to the season. After last appearing on April 5 against Bournemouth, he missed four consecutive matches, during which the Hammers struggled, drawing twice and losing twice. Rumors swirled about the reason behind his absence, but Álvarez has now explained it was due to a back issue.
"It wasn’t something we wanted to make a big deal out of — it was a back discomfort that I’d been managing for a few games," he explained. "After discussing it with the coach and considering that we were safe from relegation in the Premier League, we agreed that it was best to take a short break and think ahead, especially with international duty coming up."
The midfielder made his return on May 5 at Old Trafford, coming off the bench against Manchester United. He played 27 minutes in West Ham’s 2–0 victory, a positive note after weeks on the sidelines.
"I was happy to get back on the pitch and get some minutes under my belt after nearly a month out. The focus now is on fully recovering and preparing for what’s next," Álvarez said.