Manchester City’s main star is not Erling Haaland

Last summer, Manchester City were praised for earning some hefty transfer fees.

Few were more praised than the $111 million it raised for the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid.

The Argentinian had arrived from South America for just $18 million, so the sale represented a significant profit.

But as the season started, it quickly became clear that the boost to the balance sheet came at a significant cost to the playing squad.

Alvarez had consistently scored goals whether he was replacing Erling Haaland or playing with the Norwegian striker.

As Manchester City endured a horror season, the club realized it had to act quickly to replace Alvarez.

The man they turned to in January was Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush, who signed for a fee of $77 million.

A healthy return of eight goals in 25 games was crucial in allowing City to avoid a disastrous season and qualify for the Champions League.

His performance was arguably more impressive considering he joined a team in the middle of a crisis.

Or as his coach Pep Guardiola said at the time: ‘If you play well, everyone adapts quickly.

“When [the team doesn’t] Play well, you need time. He is a man who likes to attack space to help create. But if we play like we played today, everyone is better.”

This season was more difficult for Marmoush because he got injured early.

The team has managed to muster some decent form in his absence, but the run has rested almost entirely on Erling Haaland’s goals.

Marmoush’s return to fitness and scoresheet in midweek in the Carabao Cup against Swansea City was a timely reminder of how important his ability to put the ball in the net is for City.

However, Guardiola was also impressed with his all-round play.

“With him with that system, five at the back, with central defenders around, with Erling he knows perfectly how to be patient,” said Guardiola of Marmoush.

“How to be in small spaces, how to be consistent, how to get to the runs at the back. We have incredibly good deliveries with Phil [Foden]especially with Rayan Cherki and of course Nico Gonzalez.

“It’s getting better and better. I’m more happy for him because a striker needs goals and that will be important for his confidence.”

“He has been injured for a long time and of course it is important to play in Erling’s position.

“We know we need both in a lot of games and it’s so nice to have him back.”

Marmoush’s importance lies not only in the role of Haaland understudy, as Guardiola explained this summer.

‘Him and Erling [Haaland] can play together,” he told the press in preseason.

“If we need a winger, a real winger on the sides, there are better players. But if we need a player who is close to Erling in the gaps between the full-back and the central defense, and need the intensity, then Omar is the best.”

“If we need a player close to the penalty area, Omar is the best we have next to it. But if we need more players in the pocket, more in small spaces, more control and the like, there are others who are better.”

“So it depends on what we need in these circumstances. If at times like last season we might need the full-back to be wide and the winger to be inside, then he is top.”

The sophistication it offers should not be underestimated. In his first appearance back from injury as a substitute against Aston Villa, he provided an assist for Erling Haaland, who was ruled out for a marginal offside.

It was a point Guardiola was keen to make in discussions about what Marmoush’s best position might be.

“He can potentially play No. 9 as well, he can play No. 9,” he added.

“Erling’s figures [Haaland] are so important, it’s impressive and he scored a lot of the goals we scored.

“But when we need goals, that’s sometimes the case, Omar [Marmoush] It’s important that he’s back. Look at the few minutes he arrived as less than an inch was offside and made the move that allowed us to equalize against Aston Villa.

“So Omar has this quality, but he is still young and still has a margin for improvement.”

Erling Haaland is irreplaceable for Manchester City, but the club has become so dependent on him. Marmoush’s role in relieving that pressure might just make him the MVP.