The Argentine international Julian Alvarez agreed to join the Manchester City from River Plate, confirmed the Buenos Aires club on Sunday. The president of the ‘Millionaire’ club, Jorge Brito, confirmed that the ‘cityzen’ had paid the 21-year-old forward’s termination clause, but added that he will not move to England until July at the earliest after signing a loan contract with the Argentines.
Álvarez helped carry River Plate to the Argentine league title last November with 18 goals. He made his international debut last year, being part of the Argentine team that won the Copa América in July.
“If you look at everything Julián has done, it was always likely that his termination clause would be fulfilled,” Brito told Argentine network Fox Sports Premium. “The most difficult thing was to agree on a loan, because Julián is practically irreplaceable in the squad.”
Brito revealed that Álvarez would remain on loan until July 7 and that the contract contained a clause that allowed him to stay for the second half of the year if River reached the last stages of the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
Argentine newspaper Ole reported that City will pay River $26 million for Álvarez, making it the club’s most expensive sale since Javier Saviola moved to Barcelona in 2001.
River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo confirmed the deal. “It’s a good deal because he stays with us a little longer and joins a great club, one of the best in the world with great economic power,” he said after his team beat Platense 3-0. “City don’t need him at the moment and we don’t have to look for a player of his quality, which would be very difficult.”
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