Manchester City Line Up Julian Alvarez Transfer From River Plate

Manchester City look set to make one of the most intriguing signings of the January transfer window in the shape of River Plate forward, Julian Alverez.

The 21-year-old Argentine could remain on loan at his current club as part of the deal before moving to the English Premier League side in the summer ahead of the 2022/23 season.

For a fee of around $21 million, Pep Guardiola will be able to call upon the services of one of the most promising South American players in recent years, and one for whom it was a case of when he would move to a big club in Europe, rather than if.

Though the fee is a considerable one for a young player yet to play outside South America, it may turn out to be a bargain for the Manchester Club.

The move has echoes of City’s signing of Gabriel Jesus back in 2017.

When the Brazilian forward arrived from Palmeiras, there was uncertainty around whether he would go straight into the first team or spend some time on the fringes while he adjusted to life in England and the Premier League.

The latter scenario has happened more recently with City’s signings from South America such as Kayky and Dario Sarmiento.

But Jesus’ quality was such, and his fit for the team so well thought out, that he slotted straight into the senior side despite his youth and relative inexperience.

The same could, and probably should be expected of Alvarez, who is at a similar level to that of Jesus on leaving South America, and is already considered among the most talented players in world football.

His ability to shoot with both feet, flashes of creativity to go with his goalscoring, and high work rate make him dangerous in and out of possession.

He was the only player based outside Europe to make the Guardian’s list of the top 100 men’s footballers, coming in at 91.

Tom Robinson is an Argentine football expert who was part of the voting panel for that top 100, and thinks the move will be a good one for the player and his soon to be new club.

“Alvarez feels a good fit for City,” says Robinson. “He fills a position where they are lacking options and should give them an extra clinical edge in attack.

“At the same time, he isn’t a high profile name who will kick up a fuss if he isn’t starting every week. He also has huge resale value if things don’t pan out.”

If he lives up to the promise, Alvarez should be able to replace what City lost from selling Ferran Torres to Barcelona at the start of this January transfer window. 

It’s more than likely they had the River Plate youngster in mind as a replacement prior to Torres’ departure.

The Spain international was becoming more effective as a central attacker for both club and country, and may be used in that role at times for Barcelona.

Alvarez has undergone a similar transition as a teenager and arrives as a striker who can also play out wide, just as Torres was a winger who could also play through the middle.

Jesus arrived with a similar positional profile, and though there are other similarities the two players are not entirely the same in terms of playing style.

Neither is Alvarez a Sergio Agüero clone, though he will no doubt be compared to City’s all-time record goalscorer as an Argentine forward arriving at the club with great potential.

“Expectation has always been high for him ever since he came on as a substitute in the biggest game in River Plate’s history—the infamous 2018 Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors—in just his fourth senior appearance,” adds Robinson. 

“But even his biggest fans wouldn’t have predicted his transformation from promising talent into the hottest forward in Argentinian football, and a big-money transfer to Manchester City in the space of 12 months.

​​“The hype is justified though. Given the opportunity to play through the middle, Alvarez has demonstrated his technique, intelligence and movement to spearhead River’s first league title in seven years.”

It will be a big year for Alvarez with plenty to play for with Argentina ahead of the World Cup in November, and with River and/or City depending on when he makes the move.

Timing could be everything, but regardless of when it happens City will no doubt be pleased one of the most promising talents in World football has chosen to join them.