When asked about the rapid rise of Julian Alvarez during an interview with Ole last week, Diego Simeone had a few words of warning for the fresh-faced Argentina international.
Alvarez may have tasted Copa America glory in the summer before embarking on his most impressive run of goalscoring form in senior football but, as the Atletico Madrid manager was at pains to point out, he has achieved nothing yet.
“(Alvarez) has shown important things but he is still young. He may have a moment when his level drops – and we will see what kind of player he is once he leaves (River Plate),” Simeone said of a man who almost joined Atletico’s Madrid neighbours Real a decade ago.
“When they explode so young, there is a period where (their form) goes down – it is normal. There comes a time when you don’t score so many goals, your rhythm slows down, you are less precise.
“We will see how (Alvarez) comes out of that and then we’ll see the player he’ll be. I like him because he has strength, speed, scores goals and has a good shot. Hopefully he can maintain (his form).”
Tottenham target Julian Alvarez is on fire at River Plate
Fortunately, Alvarez doesn’t appear to be resting on his laurels.
The reported Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur target scribed his name in River folklore by scoring both goals in the 2-1 Superclasico victory over arch rivals Boca Juniors before the international break.
And he continued where he left off on Monday night, a first career hat-trick against San Lorenzo that helped River Plate maintain their five-point advantage at the top of the Argentinian league.
His first of the evening was emphatically taken – rattled first time into the bottom corner from 25 yards. A simple tap-in doubled his tally before Alvarez raced in behind the San Lorenzo back line and found the net from the tightest of angles.
Speed, skill and ice-cool finishing, it was a performance reminiscent of another diminutive, dextrous number nine who made his name in Argentinian football before heading across the Atlantic. A young Sergio Aguero.
In 12 games, Alvarez has scored ten goals.
A big-money move to Europe has been on the cards for a while – but now it feels like only a matter of time.
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