Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly look set to go head-to-head in the race to sign 20-year-old Uruguayan striker Agustin Alvarez.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs keen on signing Agustin Alvarez. The two La Liga clubs have already established contact with CA Penarol to enquire about the situation of the 20-year-old Uruguayan striker.
Agustin Alvarez Martinez is widely regarded as one of the most promising young strikers in South America, having made waves in the youth setup at CA Penarol. During his days in age-group football, the forward scored 113 goals in 170 games, with his exploits back then attracting plenty of top clubs in Europe.
The 20-year-old has only gone from strength to strength since being promoted to the first-team setup, though. In the ongoing campaign, Alvarez has 23 goals and five assists in 40 appearances in all competitions. Suffice to say, his progress has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona and Real Madrid among the clubs setting their sights on him.
The interest from Barcelona is understandable, considering Xavi does not have a reliable striker at his disposal. That is because Sergio Aguero is sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a heart condition that will require specific treatment for months. Aguero’s absence has left the Barcelona boss with Martin Braithwaite and Luuk de Jong as the only other options to lead the line.
However, Braithwaite is a backup option at best, while de Jong has been an absolute dud since arriving on loan from Sevilla on deadline day in the summer transfer window. So, it is hardly surprising that Barcelona could enter the transfer market for a striker this January, with Alvarez a viable target. On the other hand, Real Madrid’s need for a striker stems from a different reason.
At Real Madrid, Karim Benzema has been going strong for years and has shown no signs of slowing down this season. However, there is a lack of quality beyond the Frenchman, even though Luka Jovic has been in resurgent mood lately. But Mariano Diaz has is surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu, and his departure would necessitate the arrival of a new striker.
To that end, Alvarez is a viable target for Real Madrid, with the 20-year-old Uruguayan striker also being linked with them previously. According to Defensa Central, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have contacted CA Penarol to enquire about the player’s situation. What now remains to be seen is if either club can sign Alvarez anytime soon, although several other sides are also showing an interest in him.
