Julián Álvarez, relegated to Manchester City: from being the world champion's number 9 to an eternal substitute with Guardiola

's pre-season 

and a few days after playing the Community Shield against Liverpool, the journalist Miguel Simón spoke with 

on SportsCenter and asked him about 

who had recently arrived in England.

"We made a mistake with him. He is a team player. He has a goal, he has the goal between his eyebrows. He is an extraordinary signing. We are going to take advantage of

the work of (Marcelo) Gallardo and we hope to be able to add something to his game. We want him to be well, he has already adapted", he said and all the Argentines expected to see many minutes from the former

in the

even though he had an offensive beast like

"If we play with a more closed end, I see it as complementary to Haaland. If we play with open ends, not so much,"

he added  about that dispute with the Norwegian, who arrived after scoring 86 goals in 89 games with

and who has already been 32 in 32 with City.

Pep Guardiola highly praised Julián Álvarez.

Photo: ESPN TV capture.

The first months they proved Pep right.

After a short period of adaptation to the competition, during the month of October Julián added minutes in the eight games that the

played and in three of them he was part of the starting eleven.

He started as a starter in the 5-0 vs.

Copenhagen for

scoring the fifth goal, and in the goalless draws against the Danish team in the second leg and against

in Germany.

In any case, there was little of the Argentine and the Norwegian together on the pitch.

During that period they shared a team in just 135 minutes, which is equivalent to a game and a half.

Mostly it was one or the other.

's goals

prevailed, but the

also continued to have his chances and took advantage of them.

He chained three consecutive games scoring in November (Sevilla, Fulham and Chelsea).

Meanwhile, Guardiola continued to praise him every time he had to talk about him. 

," said Pep.

And he even came to compare him with Messi:

. "

Guardiola gives instructions to Julián Álvarez before going out onto the pitch against Southampton.

REUTERS/Phil Noble.

If before the World Cup

was adding a significant number of minutes with the

it was expected that when he returned from Qatar he would have even more continuity.

It is that he was one of the figures of the world champion, fully fulfilling the enormous responsibility of replacing a 

who had been physically touched.

He scored four goals, a figure that was barely surpassed by

(8) and

(7), neither more nor less, and was vital for the consecration.

However, on returning to England he lost ground.

round of 16

against

the most relevant so far this year, he went to the bank and did not enter for a single minute.

It is striking that the starting forward of the world champion team has so little continuity, although on the other hand it is understood since his competitor for the position is a forward called to mark an era like Haaland and that he earns his place based on goals and more goals.

On the other hand, 

is a figure, captain and goalscorer at 

and seems to be beginning to recover the place he lost in the World Cup.

In this context

Julián needs to play: 

Julián's numbers at City

• 28 games played: 12 as a starter and 16 as a substitute.

• He completed the 90 minutes 10 times.

• He converted 9 goals and gave 2 assists.

• No titles.

look also

The story of the "African curse" that Pep Guardiola has and would not allow him to win the Champions League

Manchester City had to settle for a draw in Germany and Julián Álvarez stayed on the bench