Julián Álvarez, citizen of the world

River appeared in Julián’s life after that disappointment in the real Madrid and the refusal of Gustavo and Mariana –his parents– to continue in Argentinos.

I had even had a chance to go to Mouth, but Julián preferred to return to Calchín to wait for a better opportunity to make the leap to a big team. The Club Calchín shirt is the same as River’s and, perhaps that, who knows, was what decided Julián and his family to go to the millionaire team.

Arrived at the Seventh River in 2015 and it didn’t stop anymore. And not only did he not stop anymore: his first game in Libertadores Cup it was the end of Madrid against Mouthin which Marcelo Gallardo he used the Spider (nickname given by one of his two brothers because he seemed to have more than two legs when he ran, so fast) as a kind of winger on the right. And he also played in that same place in the final that River lost in Lima against Flamengo.

In any case, the integral, modern, technical, tactical, goalscoring center forward was in the making. Gonzalo Higuain he said it clearly in March 2021 in ESPNwhen soccer was just coming out of the dark time of the pandemic, River was looking for a center forward and Julián had not yet exploded.

“River already has a 9 and it is Julián Alvarez. He’s playing down a lane, but as a 9 he’s a lot like me. The day they put him at 9, he doesn’t go out anymore ”. Pete was right. Gallardo went to Julián in the local tournament of the second half of 2021 and the kid from Calchín did not disappoint. He scored 18 goals in 22 games and led River to the first League title of the Gallardo cycle. There began another story.

Julián was still in River and would continue in the millionaire team for six more months, but he had already been transferred to the Manchester City. Pep Guardiola It was decisive for Julián to stay at City. Part of the directory of the owners of the sky blue team had the initial idea of ​​buying the kid from Calchín and giving him a loan to a team from the Premier Or, to a European team from the holding company to comply with an adaptation period. Guardiola met with them and was clear and forceful: “Julian Alvarez He is a type of striker that this team does not have. I’ve seen him a lot and I think he should stay with us”.

And so it was Julian Alvarez it stopit in Manchester City. His personality, his maturity, his ways, his application to the idea of ​​constant improvement and his concerns immediately seduced the great coach. The City he had spent good money on the norwegian Erling Haalanda big striker who caught the attention of Pep for the immense amount of goals that he had converted in the Borussia Dortmundthe same age as Julián (barely a few months younger) and with a strange style for football teams. guardiola. But, precisely, the difference in style between the Norwegian kid and the one from Calchín is what gives City’s attack variety. Guardiola complied with that idea of ​​having him on his team right now, giving him more and more minutes.

However, all this did not result in the immediate call to the Argentine National Team. lionel scaloni had Lautaro Martínez as the owner of the center of the attack, at the Tucu Correa as an alternative already Gio Simeone as a third option. Julián Alvarez –perhaps because he was in Argentine soccer– loomed there in the distance, something like “when I go to Europe, we see”.

Julián did his last semester at the Argentina in a River which was not as good as others he put together Gallant and, although they scored goals in a series (6 of 8-1 against Alianza Lima, for example), the team did not shine and was eliminated from the Libertadores in the Round of 16 by Velez on July 7, a date on which, under any circumstances, normal, it would be playing the world. Fate wanted everything to be as it was and Julián Alvarez had the necessary margin to establish himself in the City and, therefore, make his call-up to the national team inevitable.

What followed is all we know. Already in Qatarthe position that was Lautaro Martinez until the Spider replaced him in the match against Mexico. Scaloni and his style came like a glove. Julian Alvarez He is the prototype of the modern striker, who is asked for more tasks than the big 9 of the past.

Julián has many virtues, but there is one that puts him above the rest of the players in his position, something that he had already shown in River: It is very rare that he does not do what the situation asks for. He’s always lined up correctly to receive, he’s always looking for the right space, he’s always making the pass that’s needed, he’s always got the definition that’s needed to beat the opposing goalkeeper. And not only this. In addition, he perfectly fulfills what “9 is the first defender”.

In the match against CroatiaJulián was many times about kovacic, when this stupendous footballer took over as central midfielder and Modric moved to the right. The 2-0 goal for Argentina could define him in all his dimensions. Julián was the one who rejected the aerial ball that fell in the Argentine area after a Croatian corner kick and, from there, he shot out, irrepressible, sure, persevering, voracious. For this reason, he took the failed rejection of bland and converted the goal. He also received a penalty in a very similar play and he dressed as “9 from the area” to put his signature on the great play by Messiprior to the third goal.

Julián Alvarez is here to stay. His life as a footballer was to prevail by force of play and goals, perseverance and strict application of previous plans. The consecration night of Lusail Stadiumthe pass to the final with his essential contribution, his ability to adapt to any system or strategy, make him an exceptional footballer who almost tiptoed into the elite of world football.

Calchin, Manchester or Doha they seem to be the same for this true citizen of the world.