Argentina International Julian Alvarez has agreed to join Manchester City from River Plate, Side Buenos Aires confirmed on Sunday.
River Plate President Jorge Brito confirmed the Premier League champions had paid the 21-year-old release clause, but added that he would not move to England until the early July after signing a loan with Argentina.
Alvarez helped put out the river plate to the Argentine League title last November with 18 goals.
He made international debut last year, forming a part of Argentine forces who won the Copa America in July.
“If you see everything that has done Julian is always the possibility that the release clause will be fulfilled,” said Brito to the Argentine Fox Sports Premium network.
“The hardest thing is to approve a loan step, because Julian is practically irreplaceable in the squad.” Brito revealed Alvarez will remain with loans until July 7 and that the contract contains a clause that allows him to stay for the second half of the year if the river reaches the last stage of the Copa Libertadores, equivalent to the South American Champions League.
Argentina OLE newspaper reported that the city would pay a $ 26 million river (19 million pounds) for Alvarez, making it the sale of the most expensive club since Javier Saviola moved to Barcelona in 2001.
River plate coach Marcelo Gallardo confirmed the agreement.
“This is good when he has to stay with us for a little longer and join a big club, one of the top sides in the world with great economic power,” he said after his team beat Platene 3-0.
“Currently City don’t need it and we don’t need to find players from their quality, which will be very difficult.” By signing Alvarez, Premier League Leaders City strengthened the line in the future after selling Spanish striker Ferran Torres to Barcelona in January.