Man City’s Julian Alvarez signs new contract

Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club until 2028, the Premier League champions announced on Thursday.

Alvarez, 23, has only been part of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad since last summer but has impressed enough that the club were keen to extend his contract on better terms.

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“This is a very proud moment for me and my family,” he said. “It’s great that a club like City trusts me so much.

“I was very happy with my first season here, but I can do a lot more. I know I can be better and City gives me everything I need to reach my potential.”

The Argentina striker joined City from River Plate in January 2022 but stayed in his home country until the end of last season. He joined Manchester in the summer and has scored 10 goals in 33 games since making his debut in July.

He was part of the Argentina team that won the World Cup in Qatar in December, scoring twice in a 3-0 win against Croatia in the semi-finals before beating France in the final.

Alvarez’s new contract will increase his weekly pay to bring him more in line with the rest of City’s senior team.

City acted quickly to tie another of their star players. Almost all of Guardiola’s squad, who have won four of the last five Premier League titles, have contracts until at least 2025.

“Julian impressed everyone at Manchester City with his technical ability, dedication and attitude,” said City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

“He is the ideal blueprint for a young footballer and an inspiration for anyone who wants to make it in football. He’s already proven here in England that he has excellent movement and a natural goal-scoring instinct.

“His progress so far has been really good but we are now fully focused on developing his game and making him one of the best strikers in world football.”

Ilkay Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the season and Kyle Walker’s contract is expected to expire in 2024. Sources close to City have denied reports that preliminary talks are underway to extend Walker’s contract.