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Manchester City buy River Plate and Argentina striker Julian Alvarez. The deal is valued at £17m including bonuses and tax.

Alvarez signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Cityzens before immediately returning to River Plate, where he will remain on loan until at least July.

The 22-year-old striker has scored 36 goals and given 25 assists in 96 games for River Plate since making his debut in 2018. Alvarez played 20 games in Argentina’s last championship, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists. He was the tournament’s top scorer. Alvarez will continue to play for River Plate on loan until at least July.

Alvarez played five games for his country’s national team, winning the America’s Cup last summer.

“We’ve been following Julian for quite some time. He is capable of playing different roles in attack and we firmly believe he is one of the best attacking players in South America.”

“I am so happy that Manchester City buy Alvarez. I really believe that we are able to provide the right conditions for him to fulfil his potential and grow into a top-level player,” says City sporting director Txiki Begiristain.

Alvarez is short (170cm), which makes him similar to another short Argentine centre-forward, Sergio Aguero (173cm). The similarities between the two men do not end with their anthropometry; they are indeed close in style:

• speed
• powerful right-footed strike (from any distance)
• technique
• realization of chances

And in some ways Julian is even stronger than his oustanding compatriot

• head play (through positioning and a powerful jump)
• versatility (can play not only in the centre, but also on either flank)
• good left foot

There is no surprise that it was Manchester City took the young talent, because Pep Guardiola loves and knows how to use the strikers of this plan. And since Sergio Agüero is no longer an option for objective reasons, why not look to his heir apparent?