Manchester City have been urged to make a sensational move for former striker Julian Alvarez, with Micah Richards believing the club should hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the Atletico Madrid forward.
Alvarez has become one of the biggest names in the final stages of the summer transfer window. Arsenal are reportedly exploring a deal worth around £128 million for the Argentina international, while Atletico Madrid’s stance on his future has continued to generate uncertainty.
For City supporters, however, the situation carries an extra layer of intrigue.
Alvarez is a player many fans still remember fondly from his time at the Etihad. He left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in 2024 after establishing himself as an important member of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Now, with the forward potentially available again, Richards believes City should seriously consider bringing him home.
Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast: ‘If I were Man City, I’d be going back in for Alvarez. 100 per cent.’
Micah Richards wants Manchester City to hijack Arsenal deal
Richards’ recommendation is simple: Manchester City should get involved before Arsenal can complete their pursuit of Alvarez.
The former City defender believes the Argentine remains good enough to make a major impact at the Etihad. His comments are particularly interesting because Alvarez has already demonstrated that he can operate successfully within the demands of English football and Manchester City’s system.
The idea of City hijacking Arsenal’s move would be a huge development in the transfer window.
Arsenal are reportedly prepared to consider a package worth approximately £128m for Alvarez. Atletico’s valuation of the striker has risen significantly, and reports suggest the Spanish club are now prepared to listen to offers around €150m.
That would make any potential City move extremely expensive.
Still, Richards’ argument is understandable.
Alvarez is only 26 years old and has already enjoyed success at the highest level. He has won major trophies, lifted the World Cup with Argentina and gained valuable experience in both the Premier League and La Liga.
Why Julian Alvarez could make sense for City’s new era
The situation at Manchester City has changed considerably since Alvarez departed.
Enzo Maresca is now in charge after succeeding Guardiola in June 2026, meaning the club are beginning a new chapter.
That makes the idea of bringing Alvarez back particularly fascinating.
Maresca could potentially see the Argentine as a versatile attacking option capable of playing multiple roles. Alvarez has previously shown that he can operate as a central striker, second forward or attacking midfielder.
That flexibility could be extremely valuable.
Manchester City have traditionally demanded enormous versatility from their attacking players. Alvarez fitted that requirement during his time at the club, often accepting a supporting role while still producing important goals.
His development at Atletico has also made him a more experienced player.
According to current reports, Alvarez has scored 49 goals and provided 17 assists in 107 appearances for Atletico since his move from Manchester City.
Those numbers underline why Arsenal are prepared to consider such a significant investment.
City fans already know what Alvarez can offer
One of the biggest advantages of signing Alvarez would be the lack of an adaptation period.
Unlike many expensive transfer targets, Alvarez would not need to learn the Premier League from scratch.
He already knows Manchester City.
He knows the intensity of English football. He understands the expectations surrounding the club. He has played alongside several City players and has experienced what it means to compete for trophies at the Etihad.
That familiarity could make a potential return easier than signing an entirely new forward.
There is also the emotional factor.
Many Manchester City supporters were disappointed when Alvarez left the club. Although his decision to move to Atletico was understandable given his desire for more regular responsibility, there remained a feeling among some fans that City had allowed an exceptional talent to leave too early.
A return would therefore be viewed as more than just another transfer.
It would represent an opportunity to correct what some supporters believe was a mistake.
Arsenal’s interest makes the situation even more intriguing
Arsenal’s pursuit has added urgency to the story.
The Gunners are reportedly prepared to invest around £128m to sign Alvarez, although the transfer remains complicated by the player’s own preferences and Atletico’s position.
Alvarez has reportedly wanted a move away from Atletico, with Barcelona previously viewed as his preferred destination.
Barcelona remain interested, but Atletico have taken a particularly strong stance against selling him to the Catalan club. Reports on Wednesday indicated that Barcelona were still trying to keep their pursuit alive, despite Atletico publicly insisting that the situation was not simply about money.
That could leave Arsenal with an opportunity.
But Richards’ intervention introduces another possible destination.
If Manchester City were genuinely interested, the transfer battle could suddenly become much more complicated.
Would Manchester City really pay £128m for Alvarez?
This is where the situation becomes difficult.
There is a major difference between wanting Alvarez back and actually paying Atletico’s asking price.
A £128m transfer would represent a huge financial commitment. City would need to decide whether Alvarez is the right player to justify that level of spending during a period of transition.
There would also be questions about squad balance.
Maresca will want to develop his own Manchester City team, and spending such a large amount on a player who previously left the club could limit opportunities for other attacking players.
However, the quality of the opportunity may be difficult to ignore.
If Arsenal are genuinely prepared to spend £128m on Alvarez, City would have to decide whether allowing him to join a direct Premier League rival would be sensible.
That could become an important consideration.
Letting Alvarez join Arsenal could come back to haunt City
For Manchester City supporters, the prospect of seeing Alvarez wearing an Arsenal shirt is uncomfortable.
The Argentine is exactly the type of player who could become a nightmare for City in the Premier League.
Arsenal already possess a strong attacking squad. Adding Alvarez would give Mikel Arteta another elite forward capable of scoring, creating chances and linking play.
The possibility of facing him twice every season would make the decision even more significant.
There is also the broader title race.
If Arsenal are willing to spend a British-record-level fee to improve their attack, City cannot afford to ignore the implications.
The Gunners are clearly trying to strengthen their squad at the highest level. Alvarez could potentially become the final piece of an already ambitious project.
From that perspective, Richards’ suggestion is not simply about nostalgia.
It is also about preventing a major rival from acquiring a player who could make them considerably stronger.
Alvarez’s preference remains a major factor
There is, however, one obstacle that Manchester City cannot control.
Alvarez must want the move.
Recent reports have indicated that the striker has expressed a desire to leave Atletico, while Barcelona has reportedly been his preferred destination.
That means City would need to convince him that returning to Manchester is the best option.
His previous experience at the Etihad could help.
But Alvarez also left City partly because he wanted a greater role. Any return would therefore require clarity over his position and responsibilities under Maresca.
If City can offer him an important role in the new project, however, the situation could become much more interesting.
Manchester City supporters would surely debate the move
The reaction among City supporters would likely be divided.
Some fans would immediately welcome Alvarez back.
They remember his goals, his work rate and his ability to contribute even when he was not the first-choice striker. For those supporters, bringing him back would be a fantastic opportunity.
Others would question whether £128m is too much.
There would also be concerns about whether City should spend such a huge amount on a player they previously sold.
Yet the numbers and Alvarez’s continued development make the argument difficult to dismiss.
He is no longer the young striker who arrived from River Plate.
He is now a proven international forward with Premier League experience, Champions League experience and significant success in Spain.
Richards’ suggestion could become a major talking point
At this stage, there is no indication that Manchester City are preparing a serious bid for Alvarez.
The story is driven by Richards’ call for the club to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit rather than confirmed evidence of a City transfer operation.
That distinction is important.
Nevertheless, the idea is certain to generate discussion among City supporters.
Alvarez is one of those players whose name immediately creates an emotional response at the Etihad. He left with a strong reputation, and his performances since moving to Atletico have only strengthened the argument that he remains an elite forward.
With Arsenal reportedly considering a £128m deal, Manchester City now have a fascinating question to answer.
Do they allow a former player to join one of their biggest Premier League rivals?
Or do they make a dramatic move and bring Julian Alvarez back to Manchester?
Richards clearly believes the second option makes sense.
For City supporters, the possibility of seeing Alvarez back in sky blue will be difficult to ignore, especially as Maresca begins building a new Manchester City era.
If Arsenal’s pursuit reaches the final stages, this could become one of the most intriguing transfer stories of the window.
