Returning to Manchester City last season has done wonders for a young defender

Returning to Manchester City last season has done wonders for a young defender

Max Alleyne returned to Manchester City in January of last season in City’s hour of need after Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol both went down with serious injuries. Alleyne had shone for Watford in the Championship when he was recalled by City. He was immediately thrown into the starting lineup by Pep Guardiola when City took on Brighton at the Etihad and went on to make seven appearances for Manchester City last season. Alleyne showed enough last season that there is a future for him at the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.

Enzo Maresca’s side has now played friendlies against Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars . Max Alleyne has come on at halftime of both matches. In those two games, Alleyne has looked to be a more mature player and it does seem that his time with Pep Guardiola’s squad last season, on top of his time at Watford, has done him the world of good.

Max Alleyne looks to have stepped up in the past two friendlies that Manchester City have played.

Vitor Reis has been impressive playing at centre-back in each of the past two friendlies that Manchester City have played. At the same time, Max Alleyne has quietly gone about his work alongside Vitor Reis. Enzo Maresca’s system, much like Pep Guardiola’s, employs a high defensive line which means that Manchester City’s defenders have to guard for the ball over the top and any counterattacks from Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars. In this regard, Max Alleyne has been elite. He has closed down danger well and his ability to anticipate the game and any danger from City’s past two opponents has also stood out.

In possession, Max Alleyne has also played his role well. He isn’t yet a game-breaking centre-back in possession. However, he knows where to play the ball and how to keep Manchester City’s possession play ticking over. That has been pleasing to see from Alleyne.

What stands out is that on both sides of the ball, Max Alleyne has benefited from spending the final six months of last season at Manchester City. He understands City’s concepts both in and out of possession well. The time he spent as a member of Pep Guardiola’s squad last season has prepared him for life under Enzo Maresca.

It isn’t a far-fetched idea that Max Alleyne could be Manchester City’s fifth-choice centre-back for the upcoming season.

Manchester City will need five centre-backs in their squad for next season. Entering a season with four recognised centre-backs where Enzo Maresca’s side will likely play up to 60 games is far too risky. This caught Pep Guardiola’s side out last season to a degree.

The constant fitness issues that John Stones and Nathan Ake faced did hurt the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. This stood out in January when Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias both went down injured against Chelsea and City had to recall Max Alleyne. That is a set of circumstances that they will want to avoid this season.

It has seemed that Vitor Reis is the favourite for the fifth-choice centre-back role in Enzo Maresca’s squad. However, Max Alleyne has shown that he is ready for that role if he is presented with that opportunity. There is an argument to be made that perhaps Alleyne is more physically ready than Reis to play in England when required. Both players figure to be prominent players in Manchester City’s defence in the future. However, for now, perhaps Max Alleyne is a step ahead of Vitor Reis in his development.

Max Alleyne looks to have benefited from spending the second half of the 2025-26 season back at Manchester City. His performances in Manchester City’s first two friendlies do look like those of a more mature player. Perhaps Alleyne will be Manchester City’s fifth-choice centre-back for the 2026-27 season. That isn’t a far-fetched notion to consider.

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