Manchester City already have a plethora of attacking options at their disposal, with the likes of Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus proving to be some of the most clinical offensive stars in the Premier League.
Going into the 2022/23 pre-season, Pep Guardiola's side will not only integrate former Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland into their forward ranks but also another talented option alongside the Norwegian international.
Hailing from Argentinian giants River Plate, prodigious striker Julian Alvarez will link up with his new teammates at the Etihad Stadium and look to make a lasting impact on British football.
The 22-year-old signed for City at the end of the recent January transfer window on the premise that he would remain on loan at River Plate until at least July 2022.
The Sporting News takes a look at the hype surrounding the youngster, his career achievements so far and his potential to become a star in Manchester under Guardiola.
How much did Julian Alvarez cost?
Alvarez was signed for City for a relatively modest fee of £14.1 million, making his presence a potential bargain should he go on to make a sustained impact for the club long-term.
The signing was allowed to happen because of a release clause that was in his River Plate contract, according to club president Jorge Brito.
The Argentina forward signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at City, keeping him in England until at least the summer of 2027. Contractually, he earns about £50,000 a week, raking in a yearly salary of about £2.6 million.
When is Julian Alvarez joining Man City?
Alvarez is scheduled to join up with his new club in July 2022. However, he could see his loan at River Plate extended depending on circumstances.
Nevertheless, this doesn't look likely to occur, as Guardiola has confirmed that the striker will join up for pre-season in the summer.
Pep Guardiola: “#ManCity saw him as an option now, an opportunity for the future. He’ll be in pre-season, for sure. I learn from the players and I want to see him on the pitch, with his teammates, what we want to do. If we were not convinced of this, we wouldn’t have signed..."
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 12, 2022
What is Julian Alvarez's position and playing style?
Alvarez is a striker who has a reputation in South America as a clinical finisher. He is capable of the spectacular and adept at taking on his opposition marker, creating opportunities for either himself or his teammates with his intelligent approach play.
Put simply, Alvarez is a nightmare to play against for defenders. His pace, technique, and poacher's instinct make him an ideal fit for City's high-octane style of play that they function to great effect in under Guardiola.
What has Julian Alvarez achieved in his career so far?
- River Plate: 6 trophies (Copa Libertadores 2018, Copa Argentina 2018/19, Recopa Sudamericana 2019, Supercopa Argentina 2019, Primera Division 2021, Trofeo de Campeones 2021)
- Argentina - 2 trophies (Copa America 2021, Pre-Olympic Tournament 2020)
Alvarez has enjoyed a lot of success in his relatively short career so far, including success on the continental stage.
In terms of the most high-profile trophies he has won, the Copa Libertadores and Copa America both come at the top of the list. The forward was a peripheral part of both triumphs, but the experience of competing for such honours will have stood him in great stead for better things.
The 2021 Primera Division win is a fairer representation of the impact Alvarez can have when used as the main focal point of attack. Alongside winning the league by seven points, the Argentina international also finished the campaign as the top scorer in the league with 18 goals across the year.
25th May 2022 also saw Alvarez break records as he scored six goals in River Plate's 8-1 demolition of Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores. Scoring a hat-trick either side of half-time, the young Argentinian will have no doubt grabbed City manager Pep Guardiola's attention in the process by becoming the first player in River Plate history to net six times in the same match.
What has been said about Julian Alvarez?
Alvarez has never been short of plaudits since bursting onto the scene, and was described as 'exceptional' by his new boss Guardiola in an interview last month.
Pep Guardiola: “If not we’d have the money in the bank... Let’s see, from South America to Europe, it may cost more, but we have exceptional reports of the boy and he has that feeling of short space, how he finishes, it is very difficult to find.” [via @telemundo/@Sport_Witness]
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 12, 2022
There have also been comparisons of Alvarez being labelled as 'the next Messi' by some. However, these claims are based more on the fact he is Argentine than their playing similarities.
Incredibly, he could well be his replacement at the heart of the Argentina attack for the upcoming decade, taking the mantle from the man who was once his biggest idol.
Julian Alvarez went from asking Messi for a photo when he was a kid to scoring his first goal for Argentina and celebrating with Messi afterwards 💙
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 30, 2022
What dreams are made of ✨ pic.twitter.com/n0ya1FJReb
Which other Argentines have played for Man City?
The Citizens have a strong relationship with Argentina, with Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, and Pablo Zabaleta having all enjoyed terrific spells at the club in the modern era.
Nicolas Otamendi was also a successful acquisition hailing from the South American nation, making more than 200 appearances for the club. On a lesser scale, former goalkeeper Willy Caballero and ex-defender Martin Demichelis were also two high-profile Argentinians to don the light blue of City.