'I didn't say anything bad' - Julian Alvarez doubles down on Man City transfer stance as he reacts to Pep Guardiola's blunt comments on his future

The striker, who has been linked with a City exit this summer, said he needed to reflect on his future after admitting it wasn't "pleasant" to be left out of some "important games" last season. That led manager Guardiola to give a somewhat cutting response, with the Spaniard saying, "Think about it". Now, the 24-year-old has responded while he is representing Argentina at the Paris Olympics.

He told TyC Sports: "I heard what Guardiola said. I don't have much to say about it. I never said anything bad. I just said that I was going to think about it like I do every season to make an analysis of what happened last season, a projection of what may come. I always say that I am comfortable and happy at City, which is a great club. So I didn't say anything bad."

Alvarez joined City in January 2022 for a fee in the region of £14 million ($18m) and while he has scored 36 goals in 103 games, the former River Plate star has had to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland in attack. Incidentally, whenever a player has crossed Guardiola in his managerial career, they tend to head for the exit. It remains to be seen what will happen to the forward, who reportedly has a price tag of £77m ($98.8m).

Alvarez has helped his Argentina side reach the quarter-finals of the Olympics, where they will face hosts France on August 2. It is not yet certain if he will be a City player when the new season begins in just over two weeks.