Pep Guardiola has deflected the notion Julian Alvarez could be on his way to Atletico Madrid, describing him as "absolutely our player".
Alvarez is currently representing Argentina at the Paris Olympics after helping his country win the Copa America last month, has voiced his frustration at a lack of playing time in big games.
The striker has been a useful member of Guardiola's squad but has often been used in an attacking midfield role as injury cover, especially with Erling Haaland as the clear first-choice forward.
In a press conference while in Paris, Alvarez said he would take the time to think about his future at the Etihad Stadium after the Games were finished, with Arsenal and Chelsea also reportedly interested in his signature along with Atletico.
Asked about the chance of the 24-year-old moving to Madrid, Guardiola deflected by giving away few details.
"He's absolutely our player. No news. I don't have anything to say. He will come back," Guardiola said.
"I count on him, but he said in the news that decisions will be made all together. Now he has to rest and when he feels ready to come back, he will come back.
"I'm sure when he comes back, I'll hug and congratulate him for the Copa America, for the Olympics, and we will start to work together. This is the reality.
"What happens in the meantime, I have a thousand million things to think about the team.
"Next week we play for the first trophy of the season [the Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley]. [In] two weeks, we play at Stamford Bridge again. That's my only concern."
Alvarez scored 19 goals for City in all competitions last season, outperforming his 17.5 expected goals (xG), while also contributing 13 assists, second only to Kevin De Bruyne (17).
He is set to enjoy an extended break when the Olympics finishes and will miss City's trip to Wembley to face Manchester United in the Community Shield on Saturday.
Ream completes MLS switch to Charlotte from Fulham
Charlotte FC have bolstered their defensive ranks with the arrival of Fulham defender Tim Ream on a free transfer.
Ream, who spent nine years at Craven Cottage, has signed a two-year deal and returns to the United States 13 years after joining Bolton from the New York Red Bulls.
The 36-year-old made 312 appearances for Fulham, more than any other player in the 21st century apart from captain Tom Cairney (325), ranking 25th on the all-time list.
During his time with the Cottagers, Ream won promotion to the Premier League on three occasions, twice via the play-offs, with the other seeing Fulham crowned as champions during the 2021-22 season.
Ream helped Fulham to a 13th place finish last year, keeping three clean sheets in his 18 outings.
“I’m really excited to join Charlotte FC and return to the US for this next chapter of my career,” said Ream.
“In all my conversations with the people around the club, it was clear this organisation and city were the right places for my family and I to continue our journey.
"I’m here to win, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the team as we prepare for a key stretch of matches that will propel us toward the playoffs as we fight for our first trophy.”
Ream will link up with former Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith in Charlotte and will be eligible for the club's next MLS fixture against former side NYRB on August 24.
Postecoglou pleased with Spurs 'growth' as second season awaits
Ange Postecoglou believes his Tottenham side are benefiting from the solid foundations that were set last season.
Spurs have won four of their five pre-season games, with the one loss being a narrow 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Postecoglou's free-flowing, front-foot approach garnered plaudits last season, as Spurs finished fifth.
The Australian believes his side are now becoming even more receptive to his ideas now that he has been at the club for over a year.
He told The Athletic: "You can see the growth. I've been doing this for a long time, so I really feel last year we laid some really strong foundations in terms of some underlying core values that I saw from the first day we got back into pre-season.
"You know, process is a pretty boring word, but that’s the founding of how you build things. Once you've built it, then everyone can see whether it’s beautiful or ugly. But I love that you can build things in football and I think a lot of that is reflective of life — certainly my life."
The Spurs head coach believes a less is more approach is what works in terms of motivating his players right now, especially considering how fast-paced and challenging his style of play can be.
He said: "The way we play is very demanding. So you're looking for how much you really have to push players — and the less you feel you need to push them, the more you know they're actually buying into it.
"Some of that is just the way they talk and their behaviour around the place. I'm looking at how they’re embracing what we’re trying to do from a football perspective, but also beyond that."
Postecoglou’s side are next in action on Sunday where they face Bayern again, this time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
'We have so much potential', says USWNT semi-final hero Smith
Sophia Smith believes the United States have "so much potential" after her extra-time winner sent them through to their first Olympics final since 2012.
The 23-year-old's 95th-minute strike proved the decisive goal of the USWNT’s 1-0 semi-final victory against an injury-stricken Germany.
The result means new coach Emma Hayes will have the chance to go for gold in her first major tournament at the helm.
Smith dedicated her goal to the effort of the whole US squad under the ex-Chelsea boss.
"I just saw an open net in front of me and knew I had to step up in the big moment," Smith told NBC. "I felt I had to do that for this team, we've been working so hard.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
