Erling this. Haaland that. Everywhere you turn comments about the imperious Nordic meat shield fill our screens as the phenomenal forward has taken the Premier League by storm. Nine goals in five matches is something out of a superhero film, and he has made English football look like a doddle.
But another Manchester City signing has quietly impressed. If Haaland is Batman, then the man with the Spider-Man celebration has also lived up to the billing. Julian Alvarez, the former River Plate star, signed in February for £18m, spent the rest of the season back on loan in Argentina, and has slotted right into City’s first team squad this summer. That single achievement should not be overlooked. Already, the 22-year-old has been involved in four of the first five Premier League matches, and he got off the mark with two goals against Nottingham Forest.
The same plaudits and praise for Haaland could and should be transferred to Alvarez. He’s made a bigger move and a bigger step up from South America to the Premier League and doesn’t speak much English unlike Haaland. Yet Pep Guardiola is more than willing to trust him even though he has only been in the country for a couple of months.
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We’ve seen how Guardiola’s training methods can improve players, but it can also break them. It seems as if the man nicknamed ‘the Spider’ has overcome any initial fears almost instantly and his footballing ability is speaking for itself. Against Forest, he showed the best of his movement, finishing with an impressive brace, but it could be the next week that we see his stock rise further.
"When Erling [Haaland] doesn't play, we play Julian. Almost sure," Guardiola responded when asked about upcoming fixture congestion given City’s European commitments. Now we are approaching the first Champions League fixtures of the season, Alvarez could be in line to start as a striker for the first time, and continue his goalscoring form.
But this role as the second choice striker may suit him, especially knowing how much his manager likes to rotate and offer chances to the entire squad. It will also take the pressure off a player who is still young and taking his first baby steps into English football.
Having not played with a central striker for so long, it seems Alvarez’s role is most comparable to Gabriel Jesus of last season. Playing from the right or off the bench, the Brazilian was able to impact games before he departed for Arsenal this summer. Now the sale of Gabriel Jesus drew criticism from some, but clearly Guardiola knew the talent he had on his hands in Alvarez and didn’t want to block his path to the first team.
He’s also likely to be a hit with the City faithful, who have marvelled at a host of Argentinian stars over the past 15 years. Sergio Aguero was the best of the lot, but Pablo Zabaleta made himself a cult hero, Nicolas Otamendi was extremely popular and Carlos Tevez riled up the red half of the city. Now those icons of the past have departed, perhaps Alvarez can scratch the itch of the Argentinian Blues.
He isn’t going to be the main man this season, but he was never meant to be. What is remarkably impressive about his arrival is how seamlessly he has fitted in at the Etihad. My spidey-sense is tingling - September could be a massive month for Julian Alvarez.
