Julian Alvarez | Signs for City (see main forum)

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It’s cheap because it’s a risk. You take a player like Lucas Alario, also came from River Plate, a striker who scored 22 goals in 47 games for that club and left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2017 for more money they we’re supposedly paying for Julian (who has 23 goals in 57 games at River) at an older age. Alario was seen as a major player in South America; he scored in the Copa Libertadores final which RP won and also at the Club World Cup; a recent poll by their fans elected him as their favorite centerforward the past decade with more than half the votes; but at Leverkusen, he has 36 goals in 102 games and is currently Patrick Schick’s sub and doesn’t play much. He has an agreement to already come back to South America this window to play for Brazilian club Palmeiras and it’s pending on Leverkusen finding a replacement. Probably dreaming of World Cup but with 9 national team appearances and 3 goals it’s not going to be more than just a dream (Alvarez has five national team appearances and zero goals). European football is a big big step for a player used to South American football and why you can’t count on them to come in and fit in right away. The best striker playing in Brazil (and South America) today (Gabriel Barbosa/Gabigol, from Flamengo, who recently received an offer from West Ham turned down by the Brazilian club) also flopped at Inter and Benfica but is a king here.
Barbosa is an interesting case isn’t he looked a beast but as you say struggled in Italy and Portugal. Was it his attitude?
 
It’s cheap because it’s a risk. You take a player like Lucas Alario, also came from River Plate, a striker who scored 22 goals in 47 games for that club and left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2017 for more money they we’re supposedly paying for Julian (who has 23 goals in 57 games at River) at an older age. Alario was seen as a major player in South America; he scored in the Copa Libertadores final which RP won and also at the Club World Cup; a recent poll by their fans elected him as their favorite centerforward the past decade with more than half the votes; but at Leverkusen, he has 36 goals in 102 games and is currently Patrick Schick’s sub and doesn’t play much. He has an agreement to already come back to South America this window to play for Brazilian club Palmeiras and it’s pending on Leverkusen finding a replacement. Probably dreaming of World Cup but with 9 national team appearances and 3 goals it’s not going to be more than just a dream (Alvarez has five national team appearances and zero goals). European football is a big big step for a player used to South American football and why you can’t count on them to come in and fit in right away. The best striker playing in Brazil (and South America) today (Gabriel Barbosa/Gabigol, from Flamengo, who recently received an offer from West Ham turned down by the Brazilian club) also flopped at Inter and Benfica but is a king here.
To balance out the Alario argument, he's reached double figures in every season at Leverkusen. In all comps he's got 52 in 136.

Not world class by any stretch, but that's a decent return and if Alvarez could bring that to our side he'd be delivering great ROI. Especially as he's an accomplished provider of goals too.
 
Barbosa is an interesting case isn’t he looked a beast but as you say struggled in Italy and Portugal. Was it his attitude?
He presents a lot of excuses like “the managers didn’t like me” but it’s hard to explain. I expect him to give Europe another try possibly after the WC. He’s talented
 
It’s cheap because it’s a risk. You take a player like Lucas Alario, also came from River Plate, a striker who scored 22 goals in 47 games for that club and left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2017 for more money they we’re supposedly paying for Julian (who has 23 goals in 57 games at River) at an older age. Alario was seen as a major player in South America; he scored in the Copa Libertadores final which RP won and also at the Club World Cup; a recent poll by their fans elected him as their favorite centerforward the past decade with more than half the votes; but at Leverkusen, he has 36 goals in 102 games and is currently Patrick Schick’s sub and doesn’t play much. He has an agreement to already come back to South America this window to play for Brazilian club Palmeiras and it’s pending on Leverkusen finding a replacement. Probably dreaming of World Cup but with 9 national team appearances and 3 goals it’s not going to be more than just a dream (Alvarez has five national team appearances and zero goals). European football is a big big step for a player used to South American football and why you can’t count on them to come in and fit in right away. The best striker playing in Brazil (and South America) today (Gabriel Barbosa/Gabigol, from Flamengo, who recently received an offer from West Ham turned down by the Brazilian club) also flopped at Inter and Benfica but is a king here.
It is true that is always a question mark how a South American player will adapt to football and life in general in Europe, but the real reason Álvarez is so cheap are 2:

1) The economic situation in Argentina. Players in Brazil tend to be much steeper in price, despite also playing in South America, because they get better contracts and release clauses. Real Madrid bought a 16 yo Vinicius, who wasn't even a starter at the time, at 45 millions Euros, or something like that. There's not a bigger risk than that.

2) Álavarez has an outdated contract and, therefore, release clause. If Álvarez isn't sold now, he will resign with River and the price is surely to go up.

This last item is why I think City might want to secure him now, despite considering he isn't needed in the squad at the moment.
 
To balance out the Alario argument, he's reached double figures in every season at Leverkusen. In all comps he's got 52 in 136.

Not world class by any stretch, but that's a decent return and if Alvarez could bring that to our side he'd be delivering great ROI. Especially as he's an accomplished provider of goals too.
Alario has two goals this season.
He came to Europe older and as more experienced than Alvarez, much more of a goalscorer (a centerforward after all) and in a league made for him (Bundesliga). He was super impressive here in South American football and he will be a star if he indeed comes back this window. Leverkusen is already open to getting rid of him for minimal compensation. I wouldn’t call him a flop, but more was expected. Another major River Plate forward arrived at Frankfurt last summer, Colombian Rafael Borré, 18 games, 6 goals, which isn’t a disaster, but the performances haven’t been very good.
 
Mix of Zabba's never say die attitude and Sergio's clinical finishing would be welcomed.
Make no mistake. Sergio was a deceptively tough little fucker, he lasted longer at the very top level than so-called ‘hard guys’ like Tevez for example.
Ask David Luiz if Aguero was a smiling softy…
 
To balance out the Alario argument, he's reached double figures in every season at Leverkusen. In all comps he's got 52 in 136.

Not world class by any stretch, but that's a decent return and if Alvarez could bring that to our side he'd be delivering great ROI. Especially as he's an accomplished provider of goals too.
Alario also hasn’t had the benefit of Pep coaching him alongside excellent players.
Big big difference in circumstances.
 
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