Man City given encouraging Julian Alvarez update after smart River Plate assist in Copa Libertadores

Julian Alvarez is more than ready to play in Europe after outgrowing Argentinian football, according to a footballer idolised by River Plate fans.

Alvarez completed a £14m transfer to Manchester City in January but has remained on loan at River until July. There has been some confusion over whether the 22-year-old could stay in Argentina until the end of 2022, but City and boss Pep Guardiola have been clear they expect Alvarez to be part of their pre-season training squad.

The striker has started the season well for River, scoring five times in nine outings, with two assists, as well as a first goal for Argentina on his full international debut.

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Alvarez caught the eye in River's first Copa Libertadores match of the season on Wednesday as he played a lovely reverse pass into the box to assist their only goal in a 1-0 win.

And River Plate legend Fernando Cavenaghi has now told City that they have a player ready to leave Argentina and continue his rapid rise in Europe.

Quoted by TyC Sports, Cavenaghi said: “I saw him in the reserves, I followed him in the youth leagues. It’s not my characteristic. He’s a complete player, he usually goes down the flanks, wears out differently and on top of that he added the goals.

Watch Alvarez's latest assist:

“That makes footballers worth much more. He runs, presses, creates free kicks and had a tremendous scoring streak. He’s on another level than Argentine football.”

“Now he has to prove it in Europe. He’s sky-high in confidence and he’s earned a place in the World Cup.”

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