For the first time in his young yet already extraordinary career, Julián Álvarez has concluded a season without lifting a single trophy. His inaugural year wearing the Atlético Madrid shirt has been marked by consistent playing time and many crucial goals, but within a context far less dominant than what he was accustomed to at Manchester City.
The Argentine`s history has, until now, been defined by an impressive collection of successes. At River Plate, where he rose to prominence between 2019 and 2021, he secured the Copa Libertadores, Liga Profesional, Supercopa Argentina, and Recopa Sudamericana. Upon moving to Manchester City in 2022, he accumulated within two seasons a Champions League title, two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and a Community Shield. In parallel, with the Argentine National Team, he has won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 World Cup, and the Finalissima against Italy.
Having won at least one trophy each season, this streak was broken in 2024/25. Álvarez had departed City seeking a leading role, accepting the courtship of Atlético Madrid and his compatriot Diego Simeone. It was an ambitious project but less established compared to Pep Guardiola`s perfect machine. The outcome? Zero titles: a Liga campaign finished without distinction, an elimination in the Champions League round of 16 (partly due to the controversial double-touch penalty he took against Real Madrid), and limited success in the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup. Now, the question is unavoidable: Was leaving City the right decision? At 25, `La Araña` is one of the strongest players around, but the impression lingers that he might not be in the ideal place.
