Los Blancos are interested in Argentinian hotshot Julian Alvarez, reports Marca. An Argentina international, is lighting up the domestic league, having scored 17 times in 20 appearances this season and helping River Plate climb to the top of the table. European eyes have been turned, as a consequence, with the likes of AC Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid, keen to recruit him in the coming months.
While Kylian Mbappe remains Real Madrid’s primary target, the club is also keeping an eye on several other young forwards; Alvarez being one of them – as per Marca. Los Blancos are prepared to lose Luka Jovic and Mariano Dias in the next few transfer windows, making recruitment in the forward position a necessity.
However, had it not been for some rule changes, Alvarez could already be playing in a Real shirt. The Argentine forward had a trial at Madrid a decade ago, during which he impressed. Nonetheless, rules and regulations decreed that a club could not have signed a player below the age of 16, and thus, Alvarez had to return to his native country.
Piero Foglia, a talent recruiter in Argentina, took Alvarez to Madrid based on the recommendation of a referee. In Madrid, the youngster – then 11 years of age – participated in several children’s tournaments.
“You had to wait until you were 16 years old. If there had been the same regulations as when Messi arrived at Barcelona, Julián would have been a Real Madrid footballer,”
Foglia confirmed.
Alvarez came through the ranks at River Plate after they beat rivals Boca Juniors to his signature. He made his professional debut for the club in 2018 in the league and went on to make seven more appearances across all competitions – scoring one goal.
Alvarez became more and more involved with the River first team in the subsequent seasons, appearing 17 times in 2019/20 and 25 in 2020/21. Currently, he is enjoying a breakthrough season; he has scored 17 goals – and set up 11 more goals – in 20 appearances in the league.
