Manchester City, following their victory in the Club World Cup, have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas as history-makers, securing their fifth major trophy of the year. Pep Guardiola’s side triumphed 4-0 over Fluminense in Jeddah, with Julian Alvarez netting twice and an own goal from Phil Foden. However, the jubilant mood was marred by a significant altercation between Kyle Walker and Fluminense’s Felipe Melo, leading to Walker needing restraint from his teammates.
While City solidified their status as the premier club globally, their rivals in the Premier League were also in action. Liverpool and Arsenal played out a goalless draw at Anfield, while Tottenham secured a win against Everton. As a result, City sits in fifth place as they approach Christmas and are set to face Everton at Goodison Park on December 27.
Now, here are the latest news stories from Sunday evening:
The Future of Alvarez
Despite persistent rumors linking him with a move away, Alvarez asserts he is “very content” at City. The recent Club World Cup win, where he scored twice and assisted in City’s triumph over Fluminense, adds to his status as a World Champion for both club and country. Although he has been a regular starter for City this season, Alvarez finds himself in a challenging situation, playing as a striker primarily when Erling Haaland is absent or rested.
Given his skill level, Alvarez is bound to attract interest from other clubs. Speculation suggests a potential move to a top European club, with Real Madrid mentioned as a possible destination.
Melo’s Stance
Contrary to Jack Grealish’s denial, Fluminense’s Melo maintains his assertion that he intervened in the Club World Cup final to defend his team against alleged disrespect from the City player.
Following City’s 4-0 victory over Fluminense, tensions rose between players from both sides. Grealish and Walker were involved, and Melo led Fluminense’s response. Melo claimed that Grealish was taunting “ole” while City had possession in the final moments, a claim that Grealish specifically refuted on social media.
In response to Grealish’s denial, Melo reaffirmed his stance, stating that he felt the City player disrespected his team, prompting him to defend his teammates.
