NEVER MIND HAALAND, IS ALVAREZ CITY’S NEW AGUERO?

‘KUN CAM’ was worth a watch in Argentina on Saturday. ESPN’s coverage of the Community Shield had the equivalent of a red-button option to savour Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero’s live, filmed commentary. An affable individual, Aguero offered levity as well as expertise, plus a few stories about his time at Manchester City. He was also fiercely loyal to the players he loves. Phil Foden being one — compatriot Julian Alvarez now another. Alvarez (right) was an unheralded signing in January, only £14million from River Plate. City left him there on loan for a few months and only decided that the 22-year-old would definitely form part of their attack this term towards the end of last season. Initially, Alvarez was to go through pre-season with Pep Guardiola before City took a decision on him, but the goals kept coming. From all angles, off both feet. Suddenly there was a buzz about someone described as the brightest young striker in South America. He fared well on tour in the US but the majority of City fans will not have seen him until this 32-minute appearance off the bench in the defeat by Liverpool. ‘Be careful, if Spider-Man enters, he scores a goal,’ Aguero said, using his former international team-mate’s nickname. He was right, as Alvarez scampered ahead of Joel Matip to poke in a predatory equaliser. Aguero kept going. ‘Give Julian the ball!’ They clearly think a lot of him back home and his manager Guardiola does, too. The goal was a nice start, although his contribution earlier in that move might have provided more excitement for the management. From the right wing, Alvarez cut across Andy Robertson to give Bernardo Silva an option and stretch Liverpool. That movement meant Kyle Walker could have buccaneered up the right to widen the pitch. City played through the lines instead and nine seconds later Alvarez was scoring from the left-hand corner of Adrian’s six-yard box. His eye for a pass is a real asset, too. ‘I’ve shown that I can play in different positions so I can offer alternatives, other solutions,’ said Alvarez. He can operate through the middle and wide right, and also floated in behind Erling Haaland for a spell against Liverpool. Guardiola has increasingly looked to a 4-4-2, so when he says Alvarez and Haaland can play in the same team, that could be as an orthodox strike partnership. Between them, they have scored 60 times in their last 66 matches. Aguero may have to perfect the famed South American ‘gol, gol, gol’ for the next time he commentates on his old club.