At nearly any other club, Julian Alvarez would undoubtedly be a guaranteed starter.

The question now arises: How will Manchester City manage to keep the Argentine player content, especially with ongoing transfer rumors linking him to Real Madrid?

Julian Alvarez emerged as Manchester City’s second-highest goalscorer across all competitions last season, trailing only behind Erling Haaland. At just 23 years of age, Alvarez boasts an impressive trophy cabinet, including a World Cup win and being part of an historic Treble-winning team that clinched the Premier League and Champions League titles.

The challenge for Manchester City now lies in maintaining the happiness and satisfaction of such a talented player when he’s not guaranteed a starting spot every week.

Many observers see Julian Alvarez as the contingency plan for when Erling Haaland eventually departs from the club. In previous years, the Norwegian striker has been vocal about his desire to play for various clubs, including Real Madrid. However, with Manchester City clinching a treble last season, it appears unlikely that the reigning Golden Boot winner will make a move anytime soon.

Nevertheless, the persistent speculation surrounding Haaland’s potential departure from City means that Julian Alvarez will consistently have the tempting prospect of stepping into Haaland’s shoes as the starting striker. It’s a compelling opportunity that may be difficult for Alvarez to ignore.

Alvarez still has five more years left on his contract, which is set to expire in the summer of 2028. During this time frame, City may indeed witness Haaland embarking on a new chapter in his career at another club.

In the current season, Pep Guardiola has utilized three different players in the role just behind Erling Haaland, and Julian Alvarez has notably excelled in the “Number 10” position, playing just behind Haaland. So far, Alvarez has contributed two goals and an assist in his four league appearances this season.

In this regard, Alvarez has had no reason to be dissatisfied with his playing time. However, this situation is contingent on the absence of star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who is currently sidelined due to injury, and the duration of his recovery remains uncertain. During this period, Alvarez has the opportunity to showcase his abilities in a way that doesn’t diminish his playing time when De Bruyne returns to action.

Regarding his versatility, Alvarez demonstrated his exceptional ball control and pace on one of the grandest stages in world football during Argentina’s World Cup semi-final. At just 22 years old, he carried the ball from just inside his own half to score a goal (albeit somewhat untidy) and put his nation 2-0 ahead.

With the departure of Riyad Mahrez and the intermittent injury concerns of Jeremy Doku, there might be an opening for Guardiola to deploy Alvarez in wider areas of the pitch. In such a role, Alvarez would likely relish the opportunity to cut inside and test the goalkeeper.

Recent reports indicate that Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid will challenge Manchester City’s determination by pursuing Julian Alvarez next summer. It serves as a reminder for City of the exceptional talent they currently possess.

While Alvarez has had significant involvement in the team this season, he played a more secondary role in the previous season. Madrid might be tempted to make a substantial offer that City would need to contemplate seriously.

However, Alvarez should be cautious about his wishes. Considering Madrid’s strong interest in Kylian Mbappe, any potential move to the Spanish capital for the French superstar could result in Alvarez finding himself in a secondary role once again.