River Plate, providing nothing unexpected happens, will win the Argentine Primera División this season, the club’s first league title since 2014.
For head coach Marcelo Gallardo it will be his first, after winning almost every other title with the club.
One of the key players during this dominant campaign is 21-year-old striker Julián Álvarez, a product of the club's academy. His big breakthrough came this season, but has been marked for years as a hot prospect.
Julián Álvarez for River Plate:
— Football Talent Scout - Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) November 1, 2021
✅2018/2019: 13 games, 2 goals & 3 assists
✅2019/2020: 17 games, 6 goals & 2 assists
✅2020: 16 games, 2 goals & 3 assists
☑️2021: 43 games, 17 goals & 15 assists
This is his year. The new star is born. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/d39mxybLUy
In Quintero and Pity Martinez’ steps
But how talented is this kid? When he was just 18 years old, Gallardo thought it would be a good idea to throw him into River's most important game in history - the 2018 Copa Libertardores final against fierce rival Boca Juniors.
Wearing the number nine on his back, Álvarez entered the Santiago Bernabeu with intense pressure on his shoulders. He came into the game in extra time, with the score at 1-1, but the Argentine didn’t let the stature of the game get to him, making several good plays, seeing Juan Quintero and Pity Martinez bring the cup to River Plate.
One strike by Quintero was enough, it's River Plate to win the title#CopaLibertadores pic.twitter.com/I8JYW7zQvy
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) December 9, 2018
A few days later he was elevated to the starting lineup, playing Kashima Antlers in the Club World Cup third place match, and received a call-up to the U20 national team.
Ten years ago, Álvarez was close to making the Bernabeu his home ground. At the age of 11 he went on trial at Real Madrid, when Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father, tried to convince him to move to Barcelona instead. But his family had already given their word to Los Blancos, and after a great trial was supposed to sign a contract with the team. A law preventing clubs from signing players under the age of 13, however, caused him trouble, so he moved back to Argentina.
"If it was the same law as Messi had when he came to Spain, Julián would probably be a Real Madrid player by now", says Piero Foglia, the man who was responsible for connecting Álvarez with Real Madrid. Today, Foglia is a coordinator at Atalaya Futbol Club, and was also the one who brought Álvarez to River.
Julián Álvarez en acción en el entrenamiento de River... 🔥⚽
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) November 3, 2021
📸 @RiverPlate pic.twitter.com/NyfWPPbnGL
Albiceleste Homecoming
When he returned to Argentina, Álvarez was rejected by both Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors. Foglia, who knew his talent, brought him to River, and it didn’t take long for him to work his way into the reserve team.
He was unbelievable, much better than his teammates at this age. A call up to the senior squad wasn’t far off, after playing in a friendly match against Talleres and scoring a brilliant goal. When River’s top scorer, Rafael Santos Borre, left for Frankfurt in August, it was only natural that Álvarez would take his spot.
Everyone knew he was a good player, but not many knew how good he could be. At the age of 21, his numbers this season are tremendous - scoring 17 goals and assisting 15 in 43 matches so far. Among these goals, he scored twice against Boca, and a hat trick against San Lorenzo.
"I don't need to praise him, he proves it by himself,” Gallardo said recently, “he plays in a mature way with so much confidence, knows how to score and it gives him credit. He has a major role in our offensive game and nothing scares him, it's a great advantage to have a striker with so much confidence.”
Is Marcelo Gallardo close to his first Argentinian domestic championship as River's coach? It seems like it. River won Argentinos Juniors 3-0, and the gap from Talleres is 9 points, seven matches to go. Bruno Zuculini, Julian Alvarez and Braian Romero scored the goals 🇦🇷 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/NpExTLM2jQ
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) October 26, 2021
Argentina can hope
Álvarez's contract will expire in 2022, but if there are no changes, it will be extended until 2024. His release clause, set at €25m, will increase to €30m too. In this form though, he won’t stay in Argentina for long.
n international title with La Albiceleste, as part of the squad that won the 2021 Copa America, has shown that his future is bright.
With both Álvarez and Lautaro Martinez on their books, Argentina fans can relax a little bit for the next few years.
Edited by Alex Smith
Photo via River Plate official Twitter account
#Sub20EnTyCSports | ¡Mirá el golazo que metió Julián Álvarez de tiro libre! Con este zapatazo, Argentina vence 1-0 a Colombia, al término de la primera parte. pic.twitter.com/dTjeWVGuRl
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) February 1, 2019
#SelecciónMayor Estos son los futbolistas citados 📋 por el entrenador @lioscaloni para la próxima doble fecha de Eliminatorias 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/0zpgfAtjMX
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 3, 2021
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