Manchester City intend to welcome Julian Alvarez to the Etihad in July, his agent has confirmed, but River Plate have hinted they will 'do everything' to keep him on loan beyond then.
City have confirmed the signing of Alvarez on a five-and-a-half-year contract for around £14m, with the South American Player of the Year remaining at River Plate until July on loan in order to compete in the Copa Libertadores group stages.
If they were to progress further, it has been suggested that Alvarez could remain at River until the end of the year for the remainder of that tournament, while other reports in Argentina say City have a clause by which they could insist on Alvarez reporting to them in summer on payment of an extra £1.9million.
However, with the Blues expected to sign a high-profile striker in the summer, MEN Sport understand they are relaxed about Alvarez’s eventual arrival and at the moment would be happy for him to stay in Argentina for another year.
Upon confirmation of the deal, Alvarez's agent Fernando Higaldo has been speaking and confirmed that City expect to welcome him to training in July. He also indicated that City have signed him for their own plans, rather than with the intention to use Alvarez as a City Football Group player.
He told ESPN Argentina (via CityXtra ): "The idea is that he goes to train with Manchester City after July."
"Julián Álvarez is not bought by CFG. The sale is direct to Manchester City, from club to club. If River passes the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, he can stay. In July, it'll be seen what is best for all parties."
"I heard many who said that the City Football Group bought him, but no. Julián was not going to accept it. If he left River, it was for something better. The negotiation went from club to club."
However, River vice president Matthias Patanian offered a slightly different outlook, suggesting nothing has been decided past July.
He told TyC Sports : "We are very happy. Julián is the product of recruiting, training and development and having played for River for four years and luckily a couple more months.
"He is a typical product of the River Plate academy and he deserves everything that happens to him and what is going to happen to him. It is good news, especially because he is going to stay with us for a while longer.
"The formal announcement is made until July. Then it will be seen, from River we will do everything possible."
