Alvarez accepted an interview with ESPN Argentina

Alvarez accepted an interview with ESPN Argentina, where he discussed his experiences leaving Manchester City, his thoughts on Scaloni, and Messi's impact on the Argentine national team.



The farewell process with Guardiola 
“(Because of the Olympics) I couldn’t make it to Manchester, but on the day I was about to sign with Atletico, I spoke with Guardiola. I thanked him for the trust, treatment, everything I learned, and all my experiences over the past two years.” “He thanked me too, saying it had been a wonderful two years, that I never caused any issues and helped the club achieve great things. He also mentioned that if I had the chance to come back one day, it would be fantastic, as everyone would be happy to see me. So, if the opportunity arises, I might return.”

Do you wish you had left Manchester City differently?  
“I don’t think I left in a bad way. I communicated sincerely with everyone. What I said might have sounded off, but that was amplified by social media and the press; it was just my feelings at the time.” “I just mentioned that I would reflect on the past and look to the future. I had a great time at Manchester City, was very happy and comfortable, but some things weren’t clearly explained, or some were slightly distorted.”

What Guardiola taught you  
“I learned to adapt to different positions and ways of playing, how to find players in open spaces, and similar things.” “Moving from Argentina to Europe, to a different country, culture, and language was a huge change. I grew a lot and learned so much from the coaching staff, the organization, and all my teammates.” “I’ll remember not just the coaches and players, but the entire club; every member does their part to ensure everything runs smoothly, striving for perfection.”

What would you write to Alvarez after the match against Saudi Arabia in the Qatar World Cup?  
“Stay calm, work hard, believe in yourself; wonderful things are coming.”

Thoughts on Scaloni and your relationship with him  
“I don’t recall any special conversations after a particular match, but after winning the World Cup, he spoke with me and Lautaro Martinez. He was very sincere about who should play and who shouldn’t.” “From our perspective, he was straightforward, telling us who would play or not based on the match and his feelings, which is very respectable because such honesty is rare.”

Does Scaloni explain his choices? 
“Yes, yes.”

How difficult is it for the Argentine national team to play without Messi?
“Well, since Messi has been with the national team for many years, it feels a bit strange without him, as the team’s style is influenced by him. We observe his positioning and movements on the pitch, but now in several matches without him, we try to adapt to this change and not let the differences be too noticeable.”

Do you think Messi can participate in the next World Cup? 
“Yes, but I believe it depends on him. If he feels fit and willing to participate, believing he can help the team, that would be great.”