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Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez he is ‘counting on him’ ahead of the new Premier League season.
Alvarez has been linked with a move away from Man City this summer with Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea believed to be interested in securing his signature.
The 24-year-old, who has scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for Manchester City, has repeatedly hinted he could leave the Etihad Stadium after playing back-up to Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland.
Alvarez has been in Paris over the last few weeks with Argentina’s Olympics squad but is set to return to Manchester following his team’s quarter-final defeat to France.
Asked if he had any update on Alvarez following Man City’s 4-2 pre-season victory over Chelsea, Guardiola said: ‘No news.
‘I don’t have anything to say. He will come back. I count on him, but he said in the news that decisions will be made all together.
‘Now he has to rest and when he feels ready to come back he will come back. I’m sure when he comes back I’ll hug and congratulate him for the Copa America, for the Olympics and we will start to work together.
‘This is the reality. What happens in the meantime, I have a thousand million things to think about the team.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his attacking options after leading the Gunners to back-to-back title challenges over the last two seasons.
Alvarez could be the third Man City player Arteta has signed following Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Chelsea have also been linked with Argentina international Alvarez as the Blues look to sign a new striker for Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement Enzo Maresca.
Ex-Arsenal defender William Gallas believes Alvarez can take his former club to ‘the next level’ as they look to end their 21-year wait for a league title.
Alvarez tipped to improve title-chasing Arsenal
‘Julian Alvarez would be a great signing for Arsenal,’ Gallas told Genting Casino.
‘He is a world champion, Copa America winner, won the Premier League twice in a row and won the Champions League.
‘He has played most of City’s important games and is a starter for Argentina, he would bring so much winning experience to Arsenal and he looks like a player that wants to reach his very highest level by playing as many minutes as possible.
‘Alvarez would take Arsenal to the next level, I don’t know if he could score 20 goals but he can play on the flank or behind the striker and be very influential.’
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