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Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Pradè has revealed his club were keen on Argentinian wonderkid Julian Alvarez, but were beaten to the punch by Manchester City.

Alvarez is one of the hottest properties in world football, having established himself as a rising star since moving to River Plate’s first team in 2019.

He currently has 36 goals and 25 assists in 96 games for the Argentine club, a record that has not gone unnoticed in Europe, where multiple big clubs are thought to be keen on him.

It is Manchester City who have raced to the front of the chasing pack, though, with it believed Pep Guardiola’s side are close to a deal for the 21-year-old.

Reports in England have stated they care closing in on a £17m deal, echoing their counterparts in Argentina, who have stated a deal should be completed in the next few days.

It’s a major coup for the Premier League champions, who have beaten the competition to his signature. One of those competing were seemingly Fiorentina if their sporting director is to be believed.

“We followed him for a long time,” Firenze Viola report Pradè saying.

“But there was never a need to take him, and now he has been taken by Manchester City.

“I don’t know if the choice of going to City is the right one for him; given the many champions, it will be difficult to find continuity.”