NEW JUL IN PEP CROWN
ASTONVILLA keeper Emiliano Martinez says his Argentina team-mate Julian Alvarez will become a superstar at Manchester City. Martinez revealed how he failed with an attempt to convince the 22-year-old striker to join him at Villa Park, before City swooped to sign him from River Plate for just £14million in January.
Alvarez will link-up with the Premier League champions for pre-season training next month after boss Pep Guardiola refused loan bids for the youngster.
He will be competing with Norwegian ace Erling Haaland for the chance to lead City’s attack and Martinez (below) said: “We all know the talent that Julian has. But he is a very humble guy who has sacrificed himself and has worked hard to get where he is.
“He is going to do well at City. In fact, I think he is going to be a superstar.
“I wanted him to come to Aston Villa. Before the
Copa America last year I told him to join us.
“But it was clear that City were already in position.
“Julian is going to do well there.we are talking about him working with one of the best coaches in the world.
“He will bring a lot of quality, but also a lot of commitment, to the team.”
River Plate were hoping to keep Alvarez until January so that he could spearhead their bid for the Copa Libertadores.
He scored six goals in the group game against
Peruvian side Alianza Lima last month and will be available for their last-16 clash with Velez Sarsfield.
But he will fly to Manchester after the second leg on July 6 to meet his new team-mates.
City have also refused a request from French club Marseille to take Alvarez on loan for a season.
The champions have spent £51m buying Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, and the 21-year-old is likely to be Guardiola’s first choice.
But Alvarez, who has nine caps
for Argentina, will want as much game-time as possible with the World Cup looming.
He made his debut in a qualifier against Chile a year ago and was then part of the squad that lifted the Copa America in Colombia.
Alvarez got his first taste of Wembley when he came on as a late substitute last week in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Italy in the Cup of Champions.