Manchester City target Julian Alvarez has previously discussed the pleasure he received by playing with record Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi at international level.
And the River Plate forward has his eyes on winning a place in the Argentina squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and will hope a move to Man City will boost his chances of doing just that.
The 21-year-old has become the latest attacking threat to be marked on the Blues' radar with City lodging an offer for the South American Footballer of the Year.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, he is said to have a £16.75m release clause in his contract with current club, River Plate, wanting to keep him until the summer.
After making five has made five appearances for Argentina, he has outlined the impact of playing with the PSG star and his international ambitions.
“Playing with Messi is the best. As a child I dreamed of that, he is my idol. You learn by looking at him on the pitch and from the outside as well. He is the best player in the world. That he is so simple, humble … makes you learn many things," he previously told Ambito.
“I dream of being in Qatar, because it is what every footballer wants. Playing a World Cup is the best as an athlete.
“That we have won the Copa América after so many years is a proud moment (sic) as an Argentine, a joy to have been part of it. People needed that after this time of the pandemic. It was an award for the whole country."
Should City sign him, it is unlikely he'll be added to the squad and would be loaned to a sister club in Europe.
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