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Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Argentina international forward Julian Alvarez from River Plate in a deal worth a reported £14million ($18.8m).
Alvarez has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League champions but will stay with River on a loan that will last until at least July and could be extended.
He had been linked with a number of Europe’s biggest clubs after scoring 24 goals in 46 games for River in all competitions during an impressive 2021.
That form saw him earn his first senior Argentina cap in June and he has gone on to feature a further five times for his national side.
City announced Alvarez’s arrival on their official website on Monday, the day the attacker turned 22.
“Julian is a player we have monitored for some time,” said Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football.
“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.”
We are delighted to confirm that we have completed the signing of Julian Alvarez from River Plate
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Speaking prior to the deal being announced, River president Jorge Brito said he was hopeful a Copa Libertadores run would see Alvarez stay on loan at the club beyond July.
City are also reportedly open to letting the youngster spend the second half of the year with another team, potentially a sister club within the City Football Group.
Alvarez, who previously had a trial with Real Madrid, is considered one of the hottest young talents in South American football after lighting up the Argentine Primera Division.
He scored 20 and assisted a further 12 goals in 36 games in the division last year, with those 32 direct goal involvements at least six more than any other player in 2021.
Cordoba-born Alvarez has won six trophies during his four seasons with River, including the Primera Division last season when leading the division for goals with 18.
