Manchester City is one of the top clubs in European football. The Citizens lifted the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League trophies last season, and they are in contention for all three this season as well. As manager Pep Guardiola gears up for the conclusion of the club season, a few of City’s stars will be casting their minds to the summer international tournaments. One of those showpiece events, the 2024 Copa America, is taking place in the United States this summer.
Julian Alvarez Seeks Further International Success
Manchester City star Julian Alvarez has enjoyed an excellent international career so far. His time with Argentina has already seen him lift the World Cup, while nearly every online sportsbook has La Albiceleste as one of the favourites for the Copa America as well.
Alvarez is having a very respectable season with City in the Premier League and Champions League. While he may not be an automatic starter for every game, Alvarez is often tasked with making a decisive impact off the bench for Pep Guardiola’s team. The 24-year-old has scored eight goals in the Premier League and contributed nine assists for his teammates.
Alvarez has been arguably even more decisive in the Champions League, starting two games and coming off the bench in four, scoring five goals and providing two assists. His impact in the attacking third is invaluable to City and will be crucial for Argentina as well.
Alvarez Shines Where Aguero and Tevez Stumbled
Manchester City fans are more than familiar with South American superstars, having enjoyed the services of Argentine strikers for many years during the current Abu Dhabi ownership of the team. Carlos Tevez joined after a stint at local rivals Manchester United, going on to win the Premier League with City. Sergio Aguero is one of the club’s top scorers of all time and has also lifted many domestic honours.
Neither Aguero nor Tevez achieved massive success with Argentina at the World Cup. While they were part of star-studded squads, they were not able to lift the famous trophy for their nation. Aguero won the Copa America in 2021, but Tevez did not win any major trophies with his nation. He was a thrice runner-up at the Copa and the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Alvarez is still young and has time on his side to establish himself as a world-class attacker, but he has already achieved so much in the sport at both a club and international level.
Can City Win It All Again?
While Julian Alvarez is likely already thinking about the Copa America with Argentina in the summer, he still has the small matter of the remaining club season to navigate. Manchester City are still in three major competitions — the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
City is among the favourites in each of those tournaments, having won them all last season. No team in European history has won the Treble two times in a row, which means City will be pushing to become one of the most successful sides of all time.
If City is to achieve the seemingly impossible, they will need Alvarez to be at his best. While Erling Haaland is the primary forward and goalscorer in the team, Alvarez often starts next to Haaland or gets a chance to shine on the wing. He will be expected to contribute decisively with goals and assists as City face off against the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and other top teams in every competition.
Young South American Stars at City
While Julian Alvarez will get most of the attention at the Copa America from a Manchester City perspective, there are other City players expected to play at the tournament.
Máximo Perrone is a City player out on loan at Las Palmas in the Spanish La Liga. A defensive midfielder who is now 21 and proven as a first-team player, Perrone may be a late addition to the Argentina squad for the Copa.
Another Argentine who may make his nation’s squad for the summer tournament is Claudio Echeverri, who plays at River Plate on loan from Manchester City. Echeverri has been a River player his entire career but was signed by City in January 2024. He was promptly loaned back to River to further his development before he joins City in the winter of 2025.
2024 Copa America Favourites
Argentina and Brazil are the two teams favoured to win the 2024 Copa America in the United States. Uruguay may also surprise, with CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) nations USA and Mexico as outside contenders for the trophy.
Even though Manchester City are not expected to have a significant presence at this tournament, their star forward, Julian Alvarez, has a great chance of winning the trophy. Led by Lionel Messi, possibly for the last time, Argentina are the team to beat.