Man City signing Julian Alvarez backed to hit ground running with Pep Guardiola key

Manchester City have been told that Julian Alvarez will have no problem adapting to life at the Etihad Stadium thanks to the similarities between Pep Guardiola and River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo.

Alvarez completed his deal to join City on deadline day, which was also his 22nd birthday, but will remain with the Argentine champions until July as they look to defend their title.

His move brought an end to growing speculation surrounding the attacker as he secured his switch for a fee reportedly worth £14m.

Piero Foglia, the man who 'discovered' the Argentina international, believes City will do wonders for his development.

He told, La Pagina Millonaria, via Sport Witness : “I always talked to Gustavo because with Julian [Alvarez], I didn’t want to be invasive so that he wouldn’t get out of focus.

"It seems to me that it is the correct sale because he goes to a club that have a coach [Pep Guardiola] who has a similar style to [Marcelo] Gallardo’s.

"They will be different in some matters, but they are similar. He’s going to make him grow in a more dynamic football, the most important in the world, where his teammates and rivals are all elite.

"He’s going to give him more growth, he’s going to need an adaptation, but he’s prepared. I think that this semester of River is also going to help him because’s is calm because the sale is already done.

"He is not going to have problems at City because he has the conditions to succeed."