Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis MacAllister has backed compatriot Julian Alvarez to be a big hit at Manchester City.
Alvarez is currently one of the hottest properties in South America, having established himself as a star for River Plate, scoring 41 goals and registering 27 assists in 106 games so far.
All of the big clubs in Europe were thought to be keen on his signature, but it is Manchester City who have won the race for his signature, securing a £15.3m deal in the January transfer window.
He’s spending the rest of the season back on loan at River Plate but is set to take part of Manchester City’s pre-season, so they can make a decision on his immediate future.
If they do decide to keep him as part of their squad for next season, he will have to adapt quickly to life in England and the rigours of the Premier League.
One man who knows all about that is Argentina teammate MacAllister, who has walked a similar path to the one Alvarez is currently walking.
He emerged as a youngster in Argentina and was snapped up by Brighton in 2019, spending time on loan with Argentinos Juniors and then Boca Juniors before returning to Brighton in 2020.
He’s now an established first-team player under Graham Potter and believes Alvarez will be a firm success when he makes the move.
“To play in English soccer, you have to be very complete in everything; physically, it is a very important part,” he told ESPN.
“All the players who are here are here for a reason; you have to get used to the speed of the game; you always have to be at 100 per cent.
“We have a lot of days off; it is an English tradition that is atypical, but when you train, you always do it at 100 per cent, and it is good to have a rest.
“I have no doubt that Julián Álvarez is going to learn a lot and will do very well.”
