'Amazed if City don't spend' - but youngsters can ease Alvarez loss

How do you switch a World Cup winner?

That mightiness soon beryllium nan puzzle for Manchester City leader Pep Guardiola, pinch Argentina guardant Julian Alvarez connected nan verge of making an £81.5m move to Atletico Madrid.

However, connected Saturday astatine Wembley successful nan Community Shield against Manchester United, we whitethorn person seen a fewer clues arsenic to why City are prepared to fto 24-year-old Alvarez leave.

A mostly youthful City squad secured a 7-6 occurrence connected penalties aft nan crippled vanished 1-1 aft 90 minutes.

City's broadside included 21-year-old winger Oscar Bobb and inexperienced midfielders James McAtee, 21, and 19-year-old Nico O'Reilly.

Twenty-year-old Brazilian winger Savinho, who only joined City past month, made an awesome cameo arsenic a substitute for nan past 30 minutes.

Guardiola was afloat of his praise for his youngsters.

"They person nan standards to beryllium here," said nan Spaniard.

"I've known it, particularly for McAtee, for a agelong clip agone and he played really bully and Oscar we saw past season.

"They person nan confidence, nan squad adore them and tin trust connected them. Oscar made a awesome game, for illustration he has done each pre-season, and McAtee was what we want him to be."

Guardiola said O'Reilly is simply a subordinate who is "so clever, truthful good" and said nan lucifer would beryllium a "good acquisition for him".

Norwegian midfielder Bobb, whose talent has been nurtured successful City's academy, played 26 elder games successful each competitions past season, including 2 starts successful nan Premier League.

City were connected nan verge of losing for a 4th successive twelvemonth successful nan Community Shield – nan lucifer that traditionally is contested by nan convention champions and FA Cup winners.

Alejandro Garnacho, who scored successful United's 2-1 FA Cup last triumph complete City, netted again astatine Wembley successful nan 82nd infinitesimal earlier Bobb showed awesome accomplishment to create abstraction and transverse for Bernardo Silva to caput an 89th-minute equaliser.

"It's a awesome feeling, first clip we person won it successful three, 4 years and to do it pinch a young group is great," said Bobb. "We had belief each nan measurement through. We kept going, didn't get excessively downbeat."

Former England striker Ian Wright, speaking connected ITV, called Bobb "one of nan astir breathtaking youngsters successful nan game" and added: "When he gets it nether control, he goes from zero to very quick.

"He was nan 1 that was committing group and thing really affirmative was coming from Bobb.

"When you get personification who wants to return players on, it gets group disconnected their seat."

Alvarez joined City successful January 2022 successful a £14m woody from River Plate, though he remained pinch nan Argentine broadside for nan remainder of that season.

He was worthy nan hold for City, scoring 20 goals successful 67 Premier League matches, helping them to nan Premier League title successful some of his afloat seasons.

However, Alvarez, who besides won nan Champions League, FA Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup pinch City, was sometimes near retired because of nan relentless goalscoring shape of team-mate Erling Haaland.

"I would beryllium staggered if Manchester City don't switch Alvarez pinch an out-and-out striker," added ex-Scotland guardant Ally McCoist connected ITV. "You can't spell into nan play pinch conscionable 1 available."

Former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane took a akin view, saying: "There are definite deals that suit each parties. Atletico are getting a awesome subordinate successful Julian Alvarez; Man City are getting a bully profit, truthful it useful for everybody.

"I'd still beryllium amazed if Man City don't spell retired and walk that money connected a striker."

City gave a competitory debut to their latest signing, Brazil winger Savinho, who moved from French broadside Troyes successful a woody worthy £30.8m past month.

He came connected for Jeremy Doku successful nan 63rd infinitesimal and made an instant effect pinch a jinking run, earlier he had a changeable saved moments later and almost recovered Haaland pursuing different dribble.

Guardiola liked what he saw from his latest signing.

"He made a bully effect playing some sides. On nan near he has unthinkable value attacking nan byline," Guardiola said.

"Always pinch wingers, if you person nan confidence, onslaught nan defenders. He did really good for 35 minutes.

"I saw galore things I liked from my team."

City person won nan Premier League title 4 years successful a statement and again will beryllium nan squad to hit successful 2024-25.

They person now won a singular 18 trophies since Guardiola joined successful 2016 – six Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, nan Champions League, nan Uefa Super Cup, nan Club World Cup and now 3 Community Shields.