Pep Guardiola won't use Julian Alvarez as Sergio Aguero heir but he can solve Jamie Vardy desire

If Julian Alvarez doesn’t want Sergio Aguero comparisons to build and build before he joins Manchester City, then he’s going the wrong way about it.

"Here it is... Alvarez, goal!! Great goal from Alvarez," Aguero himself shouted when commentating on the 22-year-old’s hat-trick for River Plate against Club Atletico Patronato during a Twitch stream.

That’s just how Sergio rolls nowadays but his previous signature move involved taking the ball towards the right-hand corner of the six-yard box and walloping it fearsomely beyond the goalkeeper.

Alvarez’s second of his treble was an eerie carbon copy and sent City Twitter into overdrive but Pep Guardiola spotted another likeness amid a fine body of work.

“Julian scored three goals in the last game for River Plate and I think Manchester City made an incredible deal because he is a player who moves really well,” the boss said.

“The goals he scored were like Vardy's movement.”

Perhaps Guardiola sees a likeness to Jamie Vardy because he’s semi-permanently haunted by the image of Leicester City striker peeling away in eye-popping celebration.

City’s 4-2 defeat at the King Power Stadium in December 2016 and their 5-2 loss at the Etihad Stadium to the Foxes at the start of last season are two of the most humiliating reverses of the Guardiola era. Vardy scored hat-tricks in both.

Those account for two-thirds of a stunning haul of nine goals in 11 matches against Pep’s City for the former England man. Is it any wonder Guardiola would like some of those qualities for himself?

Indeed, it’s not the first time he has spoken of Vardy-like traits this season. Ferran Torres’ brace in the 5-0 thrashing of Arsenal back in August was followed by a glowing assessment.

"Now, in this