Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Argentine World Cup winner Julian Alvarez after the forward shone for Manchester City against Liverpoo. The Spanish boss isn't the only man that recognises his talents though with new Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez also opening up on the forward.
Alvarez scored the equaliser in City's 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday and helped to cover for Erling Haaland. For his country he was one of the breakout players in Qatar and proved his qualities on the biggest stage on the way to lifting the biggest trophy in football.
12 months ago though and both he and Fernandez were already playing together and in a very different setting. The pair were both well on their way to earning summer transfers as they dominated in South America for River Plate.
READ MORE: Barry and Boehly call - Everything Thomas Tuchel said about Chelsea after Bayern Munich move
Across 44 games in Argentina together for their former club, Fernandez and Alvarez won 26 games and combined for five goals across that time. They were both snapped up after those performances too. Fernandez moved to Benfica for under £12m before Chelsea splashed out a British record fee of £106.8m for the 22-year-old in January.
Alvarez has already proved to be a bargain for City on the other hand with a deal worth less than £16m taking him to the Etihad Stadium. The backup centre forward has 13 goals and four assists across all competitions this term, a number that would make him comfortably Chelsea top scorer.
Such is his impact in Manchester, Guardiola has already come out to glow about his player. “Julián Álvarez, exceptional player. City made an incredible signing for this price," he said after the win against Liverpool.
Fernandez is also full of praise for his international teammate. “We have a connection with Juli because we played together since River and we know each other a lot," he said after the World Cup. "And he knows that when I’m in front, he has to make a move. He knows that and we always talk about it.
“When we entered the camp for the first time, I gave him a hug and told him 'look where we are. It’s what we always wanted, no?' ”
Such was the immediate impact that Alvarez had on teams in his early days in England Chelsea were linked with trying to pick him up for cheap after reports of his frustration at playing such a clear second fiddle role emerged. Any doubts over that were put to bed when he signed a new deal keeping him in Manchester until 2028.
They will now be pitted head-to-head in the Premier League when the pair meet later on this season and it will have to be international action only for them to keep forming a relationship on the pitch.
READ NEXT:
Graham Potter confirms five Chelsea players will miss Aston Villa clash amid Reece James update
Chelsea reach unwanted £1bn Premier League landmark as huge Todd Boehly task outlined
Arsenal flop urges Chelsea to make crucial Graham Potter decision
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke 'leading' Chelsea and Barcelona race for 'greatest' Brazilian prodigy
USMNT star Christian Pulisic sends Chelsea cryptic Champions League hint with online message
