Julian Alvarez proves Pep Guardiola's Sergio Aguero claim wrong as Man City handed 2023 blueprint

If you thought that the Julian Alvarez hype among Manchester City fans had reached its peak, well, you'd be wrong.

City completed the signing of the 22-year-old Argentine striker on deadline day, much to the delight of City supporters. Highlight reels of Alvarez banging in goals left, right and centre started doing the rounds online when City's interest was first reported, and it's fair to say that even the most casual City fans noticed similarities to club legend Sergio Aguero in his game.

Alvarez won't join up with his new club until July at the earliest, as a loan spell at River Plate was a condition of the transfer. But don't worry; la Araña is showing no signs that his development will be affected by not immediately hooking up with Pep Guardiola & co.

"We cannot replace him," an emotional Guardiola said after Aguero's final home game at the end of last season. Well, perhaps City can.

River Plate beat Club Atletico Patronato 4-1 in their second game of the season on Wednesday evening, having suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat away to Club Atletico Union in the opening match of the season.

As has become the norm, Alvarez was at the centre of everything River Plate did well, scoring a hat-trick inside 50 minutes. Yet it isn't the fact that he scored the third hat-trick of his still fledgling professional career - his second against Patronato - that sent City Twitter into overdrive. It was the resemblance that his goals bore to Aguero's.

Alvarez's first - an equaliser that River never looked back from - will not win any awards, but it showcased the quick-thinking and cunning streak that City fans came to love about Aguero.

The 22-year-old latched on to a volleyed cross after losing his marker inside the box. His first