Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Manchester City has a deal with the River Plate for the transfer of the Argentine striker Julian Alvarez. The fee paid to River Plate will reportedly be 18.5 million euros, with bonuses and taxes added. He will be immediately loaned back to River Plate for the remainder of the season.
Alvarez is considered to be one of the best young players in South America, and now City has secured his services for the years to come. This deal can be seen as a significant coup from the Premier League champions after overcoming the competitions from the clubs like AC Milan, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Argentine striker, nicknamed ‘The Spider’, has been scoring goal after goal with River Plate is a vital part of the team which won the first Argentine championship in the Marcelo Gallardo era.
Alvarez has been in sensational form in the last 18 months since bursting onto the scene for River three years ago – he scored 22 goals in 45 games last season to win the Argentinian title.
The 21-year-old is viewed as the next big star to come out of Argentina, and after the departure of Sergio Aguero, the youngster will be considered as the replacement for the Copa America winner. Alvarez is known to idolise Aguero, City’s all-time top-scorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances for the club. The stage is set for the Argentine to become one of the future stars in the coming years and prove that he is the true heir to Aguero’s position.
He has been called up for Argentina for five caps, and he is also in their squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia this week.
He has already admitted his dream of playing with Messi in the national team. “Playing with Messi is the best. As a child I dreamed of that, he is my idol. You learn by looking at him on the pitch and from the outside as well. He is the best player in the world. That he is so simple, humble … makes you learn many things,” he previously told the media.
City was very careful while handling the deal and making it happen. It was evident when the media asked Pep Guardiola about it. When he was asked about Alvarez following the 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday, Pep Guardiola remained tight-lipped.
“I don’t have any information from the club, anything,” he said.
“Not one word. I don’t know anything. I don’t have any information about the club.”
Now the deal is done, and he can enjoy the Premier League from next season onwards. His performance with Manchester City will be crucial for getting a spot in the World cup squad.