Official: Man City sign Argentine sensation Alvarez
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 31 Jan 2022 14:39 GMT
- 3 min read
Manchester City have confirmed the signing of River Plate attacker Julian Alvarez on a deal that runs until 2027.
Alvarez, who only join the Etihad club in the summer at the earliest after spending the next six months in Argentina on loan, will cost City €18.5 million, with €1.5m of that payable in bonuses.
The youngster's form has seen him dubbed 'the next Lionel Messi' and attracted attention from many of Europe's leading clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United.
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It is Manchester City who have won the race for him, though, with the official announcement of his move coming on his 22nd birthday.
“Julian is a player we have monitored for some time,” sporting director Txiki Begiristain said. “He is capable of operating in a number of attacking roles, and we firmly believe he's one of the best young attacking players in South America.
“I am so happy we have managed to bring him to Manchester City. I really believe we can provide him with the right conditions to fulfil his potential and become a top player.”
He is a versatile attacking player, who typically does his work through the centre of the field, suggesting that Pep Guardiola could be willing to maintain his current system that is without a traditional No.9, instead opting to continue with more diminutive options.
Alvarez enjoyed an exceptional 2021. He scored 18 times in 21 league matches for River Plate and netted 24 times in 4 games overall. On top of this, he contributed an impressive 18 assists.
On the international scene, meanwhile, he was a member of the Argentina side that won the Copa America.
While his long-term future lies at Manchester City, the Premier League club have not confirmed when he will join up with them. In their statement announcing his arrival from River Plate, they tellingly stated that he will remain on loan in Argentina until "at least" June.
