Manchester City could be missing one of their players for the whole of pre-season following a significant development.
At the moment, there are two major tournaments taking place at the same time.
We have Euro 2024 happening in Germany, which is now at the quarter-final stage. And we have the Copa America going on in the US.
City still have a number of players at these tournaments. Manuel Akanj, Rodri, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake are all still in with a shout of becoming European champions.
Over at the Copa America, Julian Alvarez could well win the Copa America for the second time in his career, with Argentina having made it to the quarter-final stage. They face Ecuador in the early hours of Friday morning UK time.
City’s pre-season will be starting soon, but Alvarez won’t be playing much of a part, if any at all.
Julian Alvarez receives Olympics call-up, he could miss Man City pre-season and Community Shield
It has been announced this morning that Alvarez has been called up by Argentina to play at the Olympic Games in Paris.
It had been a possibility that the 24-year-old would be asked to play, despite the fact he is currently on Copa America duty.
It was reported recently that Alvarez – a £14 million signing – will be granted two to three weeks off by City once he is done at the Olympics.
The gold medal match takes place on August 10, so it is very possible City won’t have Alvarez for the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
City take on Manchester United in the Community Shield on the same day as the gold medal match takes place. Even if Argentina are not in that match, it is highly unlikely Alvarez will play against the Red Devils.
Another player to have made Argentina’s Olympics squad is City youngster Claudio Echeverri, who signed for the club back in January.
Unlike Alvarez, Echeverri is not currently at the Copa America.
Alvarez may not play for Man City again
This is an interesting scenario, because obviously Alvarez has also had some transfer interest this summer.
The former River Plate star was said to be a bit unhappy with his level of involvement for City in the second half of 2023/24, and has been open to leaving the club for months.
It remains to be seen if a club will stump up the money City are asking for.
But it may well be that we do not see Alvarez in a City shirt again, with his involvement with the national team preventing him from returning at the same time as the other players.