Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez reported back for duty three days ahead of schedule when he returned to the Etihad on Friday afternoon with a World Cup medal, the freedom of his hometown in Argentina and the promise of a statue to be commissioned in his honour.
But perhaps the biggest clue that the 22-year-old’s life will never quite be the same is that an online petition calling on him to split up with his long-term girlfriend gathered more than 20,000 signatures.
One angry fan was so upset with YouTube influencer Emelia Ferrero’s refusal to allow a group of admirers pose for a photograph with her beau during Argentina’s manic celebrations that they set-up an appeal imploring Alvarez to end their four-year relationship.
The couple are still together - but the world has changed for a player who was a relative unknown outside his homeland when City paid River Plate £14 million for his services a year ago.
Alvarez had been given permission by Pep Guardiola to finish his celebrations over New Year back in his homeland. But he surprised City’s staff by turning up for training on Friday afternoon ahead of the Premier League clash with Everton.
Alvarez was Argentina's go-to forward when it came to putting in the hard yards that allowed Lionel Messi to produce his magic in Qatar last month. He returns to Manchester as Erling Haaland ’s understudy - and facing the challenge of proving to Guardiola that he can also play alongside the free-scoring Norwegian sensation.
Alvarez has scored seven goals and produced two assists in 20 appearances after becoming part of Guardiola’s squad in the summer. After netting four times during Argentina’s march to glory, his value has sky-rocketed - but Guardiola has made it clear that the player nicknamed ‘Spiderman’ has a big future with the champions.
Alvarez was paraded in front of the City supporters before the Everton clash and has been given time off over New Year to celebrate Argentina’s success but is scheduled to be back in Manchester in the next 72 hours. Born in Calachin, a small town situated 65 miles from the city of Cordoba, Alvarez’s humble civic homecoming saw him paraded down the main street perched on the roof of a fire engine.
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Calachin’s population of 2,000 people swelled five-fold for the biggest event in the town’s history. Alvarez had been flown back to his hometown on a light aircraft that sported a picture of him clutching the World Cup trophy on its fuselage.
He was given the keys to the town and told that the local amateur club where he had started his career had changed the name of their 150-capacity home ground to the Julian Alvarez Stadium. The local council has now commissioned a statue to mark the achievement of their most famous son.
“Having a dream come true is very difficult to describe in words,” said Alvarez to the waiting throng of supporters. “The situation we Argentines are experiencing is the greatest joy of all. It is a very great emotion.”
