Julian Alvarez given Sergio Aguero challenge by Man City great

Julian Alvarez has the opportunity to make a similar impact at Manchester City as Sergio Aguero did, according to fellow Argentine Pablo Zabaleta.

Excitement is slowly building around Alvarez, who arrives at City with a formidable record with River Plate in Argentina, and has been filmed making some sharp finishes in training since linking up with the City squad last week. When he was unveiled at the Etihad along with Erling Haaland and Stefan Ortega, Alvarez namechecked Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero as former Argentine Blues who he looks up to.

Now, Zabaleta has revealed the advice he gave to Alvarez when they met this week en route to Houston for the club's pre-season tour, and backed the new signing to be a long-term success at City.

"He’s a great player who has done really well for River Plate. He’s one of the best strikers in South America," Zabaleta said.

"A real finisher, good movement, he comes deep. His movement is really clever in attacking the space. He finishes off both feet and is a complete striker.

"It’s a big move for him from Argentina to England. With a new country sometimes you need a bit of time to settle into a new place and a different league. But he is in a good team, surrounded by good players and that will obviously make life easier for him in Manchester.

"I spoke to him on the plane and he was saying that the family is coming over, his dad and brother. Of course if there’s anything I can do to help Julian, the advice, I will do it 100 per cent. Yesterday when I was talking to him, I was telling him the club is completely different to when I first came to Manchester.

"I just said, 'listen, you’re probably in one of the greatest clubs in the world right now'. There is no better place than Man City,