Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign 21-year-old Argentine sensation Julian Alvarez from River Plate.
According to Catalan outlet El Nacional, Manchester City have become the latest club linked with a move for Argentine attacker Julian Alvarez, who is also a transfer target for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. His current deal at Estadio Monumental expires in a little over 12 months, which means he could be available for a bargain cut-price deal.
The 21-year-old has grown leaps and bounds since breaking onto the scene as a teenage talent with River Plate back in 2018. He made his debut at the tender age of 18 and has shown rapid progress over the last couple of seasons. He is enjoying another fine campaign for Los Millonarios, producing 19 goals and 13 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.
His stellar form has earned him a call-up to Argentina’s national team earlier this year. The young striker likened to Lionel Messi has garnered the attention of some of the biggest clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus all vying for his signature.
Real Madrid have been keeping close track of Alvarez’s development for a while now. The player had a brief trial at Los Blancos’ academy when he was very young. He impressed the coaches, but the Madrid giants could not sign him due to FIFA’s regulations. Now, a full-fledged mainstay at River Plate, he is back on the radars of Madrid’s scouts.
Kylian Mbappe remains the Los Blancos’ priority. Still, their recent successes with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Federico Valverde means that they are always on the lookout for special talents on South American shores. Furthermore, Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz could potentially leave in the near future, which means the club will need to strengthen at the No.9 position, particularly with star striker Karim Benzema turning 34 in December.
Unfortunately for the Merengues, they will have to battle Manchester City to secure the signing of the highly-rated River Plate starlet. Pep Guardiola is a keen admirer of Alvarez’s technical ability and believes the youngster would be an excellent addition to City’s ranks. The Citizens are already weighing up an offer to persuade the player to Etihad.
Like Real Madrid, Manchester City have also been extensively scouting the South American market in recent years, snapping up the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Yan Couto, Kayky among others. The Cityzens desperately chased Tottenham forward Harry Kane in the summer, but a move never materialised despite their utmost tries. However, they are now scouring for other alternatives.
The Sky Blues have recently been tipped to make the big-money signing of Erling Haaland while Dusan Vlahovic is also on their radar. Another much cheaper option could be Julian Alvarez. A hardworking forward who enjoys pressing from the front and has good ball control and finishing quality, he is incredibly quick off-the-mark and boasts decent hold-up play.
If nurtured properly, the Argentine possesses all the characteristics to become an ideal Guardiola striker. And at the age of 21, the Catalan coach can shape the player’s attributes to his liking. Only time will tell whether Manchester City make a formal approach for the Argentine talent or move for other alternatives.