Pep Guardiola's transfer regret! Man City boss admits he would 'love' to have 'unbelievable' former player back at the club

Julian Alvarez left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid last summer having become frustrated at a lack of regular game time for the Premier League powerhouse. The 25-year-old started 31 league games in his final season at the Etihad Stadium, but a bulk of those came as a result of absences to either Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne.

With both fit, Alvarez was often dropped to the bench despite scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists in the 2023/24 campaign. As such, the 2022 World Cup winner pushed to leave with Atletico winning the race to secure his services.

While City were keen to retain the forward, they were willing to sanction his exit and the striker shone in his debut campaign with Atletico. While Aleti finished the league season in third, Alvarez still scored 17 times and laid on a further four assists.

And Alvarez has started the season strongly, scoring six times in his opening eight league outings though Atletico have made a sub-par start to the campaign, winning only three times. However, Alvarez's performances for the Spanish side have not gone unnoticed, with Guardiola admitting he's one he'd "love" to have back at the Etihad.

Ahead of City's game against Everton, Guardiola said: "Julian had to compete with Erling (Haaland), which was something extraordinary for us.

"Julian Alvarez is top. That's why now he's at one of the best clubs in the world, Atleti, playing for a top class manager, players, performing unbelievably. Maybe I'd love to have him… but I understand why he left."

Alvarez wasn't the only player who left City recently as Aymeric Laporte departed for Al-Nassr in 2023, another who was keen on more playing time under Guardiola, who added: "The Treble year, do you remember the players I left on the bench? Aymeric Laporte, an incredible central defender and a regular for the national team, Julian and others who I would love to have now, but they wanted to play more and left."

City were caught short in attack when Alvarez left last summer as the Premier League powerhouse failed to sign a replacement for the Argentina international. The Manchester side only spent on winger Savinho from Girona and re-signed Ilkay Gundogan following his Barcelona release.

However, after a disappointing start to the season, which wasn't helped by the absence of midfielder Rodri, City splashed the cash back in January, signing Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Nico Gonzalez and, crucially, Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian joining from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt to replace Alvarez.

Marmoush scored seven league goals following his move to City though has endured an injury-hit start to the Premier League season having made just two league starts, though he made the bench for Saturday's game against Everton.

Atletico will look to get their season back on track when they face Osasuna on Saturday night. While Diego Simeone's side have lost just one league game this season, they returned to league duties eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who they demolished at home 5-2 last month.

Alvarez is expected to lead the charge for Atleti, who are without the suspended Clement Lenglet for this must-win meeting in the capital. And the former City hitman is looking to add to his six league goals of the season when Osasuna make the trip to the capital.

However, Alvarez has scored in just three of his eight appearances in 2025/26 having bagged a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano and a brace in the Madrid Derby triumph at the end of September.

Alvarez also drew a blank over the international break as he failed to score in Argentina's 1-0 win over Venezuela in Miami. Lionel Messi sat out the narrow victory but played the full 90 as the world champions eased to a 6-0 win over Puerto Rico, a match Alvarez watched from the sidelines while Lautaro Martinez bagged a brace from the bench.