Incoming Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez has a 'contagious' quality that bodes well for his imminent move to Manchester City, his River Plate manager says.
Alvarez's time at River Plate is coming to an end, and he will link up with City for pre-season after spending the first half of 2022 back on loan at River following his £14m transfer in January. In that time, he has 16 goals and six assists in 20 appearances for the Argentine side, including two goals and two assists on Sunday away to Union Santa Fe.
And his coach Alvarez was full of praise for his performance, saying Alvarez deserves credit for treating every game 'as if it was his first', rather than one of his final games for the club.
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“Julian is days away from leaving and he plays every game as if it were his first. That is contagious,” he said, insisting River will do their best to replace their departing striker.
“Replacing Julian is difficult, that's why it's important to replace him with performance. Today he is a player of great hierarchy, he had impressive growth, and that is why he is going to that club.
"You don't have to replace the player because it's difficult, but with performance, adapting the qualities of the players that are there, it can be done. River already had that job with other figures and the operation always accompanied."
Alvarez is set for another four games as a River player, taking him to the Copa Libertadores last-16 second leg, before a break of just two weeks before City's first friendly in Houston vs Club America.
Alvarez himself spoke after the game, telling City he is ready to work hard all over the pitch and not just in the final third.
"I always try to give my best in every game, help with whatever it takes, when it comes to recovering, assisting and scoring goals," he said.
"If the goals come to help the team, it's welcome. I am happy, it is the result of the work that I have been doing for a long time. Many beautiful things are being given to me and I continue on this path to continue growing personally and having this joy that the people who love me like so much."
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