Julian Alvarez couldn't end his River Plate career on a high, as they fell to a frustrating Copa Libertadores exit on Wednesday, before the Argentine striker heads to Manchester City.
Alvarez signed for City in January for just £14m, but was loaned back to River until this week for the first half of their season that began in February. It was a decision that has been more than justified, with Alvarez scoring 17 goals in 24 outings, with six assists to his name.
Now, he will fly to Manchester to link up with his new City teammates ahead of their pre-season trip to the USA next week, but his final River appearance means he has departed Argentina in disappointing fashion.
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Trailing 1-0 from the first leg against Velez Sarsfield, River saw a goal disallowed by VAR in their home leg, and were left frustrated in a goalless draw that saw them exit the Copa Libertadores at the last 16 stage. Fans held up a banner to thank Alvarez for his contribution to their club, in what was meant to be a celebration of his time coming through the ranks at River to becoming the South American Footballer of the Year.
Alvarez could have also left with a record, with the striker needing one goal to level the number of goals scored under manager Marcelo Gallardo, but he leaves with 54 goals from 120 games, one short of Rafael Borre.
City fans will have the chance to meet Alvarez when he is unveiled at the Etihad on Sunday, along with fellow new signings Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Moreno Ortega.
On River's exit, Gallardo bemoaned the VAR decision, saying: "I don't get any other things than to feel that today we were harmed by that move, by that mistake that cannot be seen, there is no clarity. But, well, injustice is what manages us at this moment. Then there is the disappointment of wanting to go much further in this Copa Libertadores.
"These things happen in a closed series, specific things, today we got within sight of the result but a mistake prevented us from have that chance to fight it to the end.
"Beyond the injustice, there is the other, the anger. The anger and injustice. Then we'll take care of what's left to us, if we weren't in better condition to pass a series that was never easy a priori. The facts ended up corroborating that. A difficult series."
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