Real Madrid, despite missing out on the highly anticipated transfer of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, has made an impressive start to the season, thanks in large part to their marquee signing of the summer, Jude Bellingham. However, the Spanish giants are not resting on their laurels, as reports suggest they are eyeing young World Cup winner Julian Alvarez as a potential backup signing, should their pursuit of Mbappe fall through.
The summer began with a shock for Real Madrid as star striker and Ballon D’or winner Karim Benzema departed for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. This left manager Carlo Ancelotti with the daunting task of finding a replacement for the Frenchman.
In a move of desperation, Real Madrid brought in 33-year-old Spanish striker Joselu on a year-long loan deal from Espanyol, with an option to make the move permanent. However, it was clear that Joselu was not the signing they had hoped for.
Ancelotti’s brilliance lies in his desire not just to replace Benzema but to reinvent Real Madrid and their style of play entirely. The team, aware of the aging superstars from their La Decima era, has been gradually bringing in young talents like Tchouameni, Camavinga, and Vinicius Jr. to inspire a rebuilding process.
The latest addition to Ancelotti’s plan is Argentine forward Julian Alvarez. Vinicius Junior’s injury has exposed the lack of attacking depth in Ancelotti’s squad, particularly after their failure to secure Mbappe’s signature.
Mbappe had made it clear that he wouldn’t extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain and would leave in 2024. However, Real Madrid’s efforts to sign him fell short, and they missed out on the former AS Monaco star. Consequently, Alvarez has emerged as a potential solution for Madrid.
At 23 years old, Alvarez spent his debut season at Manchester City playing second fiddle to the record-breaking Erling Haaland but still managed an impressive 49 appearances and 17 goals in all competitions during the 2022-23 season.
What sets Alvarez apart is not just his statistics but also his mentality and style of play. He combines the traits of a classic number 9 with the adaptability and eagerness of a young talent who can be molded to fit Ancelotti’s vision perfectly.
