Manchester United meet Julian Álvarez’s second revenge bid

Julian Álvarez, now an Atlético de Madrid forward, will face Manchester United again two years after the Argentine’s last appearance for Manchester City ended in a 2‑1 FA Cup final defeat to United on 25 May 2024.

From City substitute to Atlético striker

In that final Álvarez entered in the 55th minute for Kevin De Bruyne, but City could not overturn the deficit, with Jeremy Doku’s goal reducing United’s lead to 2‑1. The match marked his 103rd and final outing for the City side, concluding a three‑year spell that yielded 36 goals and 19 assists under Pep Guardiola.

Álvarez then completed a move to Atlético de Madrid, a transfer that followed intense summer speculation about a possible Barcelona switch, a move rendered impossible by a €500 million release clause and Atlético’s firm stance not to negotiate.

Seeking redemption at the Metropolitano

Álvarez’s sole start this campaign came in a 2‑1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, highlighting his hunger for a decisive contribution in the league.

Diego Simeone praised the Argentine after a 2‑1 victory over Real Madrid at the Metropolitano, saying, “When you give what you have, the people love you. Julian tried, it cost him, but we will recover because he is a decisive player for what the club needs.” Simeone added that forwards of Álvarez’s profile “always need the goal, but he is also a team player who can assist and has many tools beyond scoring.”

He stressed that Atlético requires a striker of Álvarez’s calibre to chase titles, stating, “To win trophies we need important forwards; we have him and must protect him.”

Álvarez has been Atlético’s top scorer in each of his two seasons. In 2025‑26 he netted 29 goals, five more than Alexander Sorloth and twelve more than Antoine Griezmann, who managed 20 the previous campaign. Only eight of those came in LaLiga EA Sports, but he remains unrivalled in the Champions League, a competition he returns to on Tuesday.

In the Champions League Álvarez has featured in 26 matches, scoring 17 goals and providing two assists, with 26 of those goals coming in his 22 most recent appearances. Across all competitions he has amassed 49 goals in 111 matches, though he has yet to open his account this season.

The Argentine’s goal drought is attributed to a delayed pre‑season caused by his participation in the 2026 World Cup final, combined with the pressure and frustration surrounding his unattainable Barcelona move.