Julián Álvarez has only a few games left in the River shirt. And with Núñez they are starting to miss him. It won’t be possible to keep it until the end of the year, but, at least, yes will play in round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. And the plan for the second semester is – as Clarín announced – to try to replace him with Lucas Alario, who is leaving Bayer Leverkusen.

Manchester City will use the clause to remove Julián in the middle of the year. When the transfer contract was made, it was established that at the cost of the sale (almost 20 million euros net) at the beginning of the second half of the year, a payment of 1,500,000 euros would be added as a penalty for interruption of the transfer. . of the soccer player, set until Dec. 31.

And that is what will happen. Manchester City have already warned River that they will pay that money. And they agreed to leave Julián from July 7, after round 16 of the Copa Libertadores, which will be played between the last week of June (first leg) and first week of July (the return leg).

“I understand that they will take him on that date. That’s what I think from our meetings with the City Group, from the faces they put on and from Guardiola’s words. They have the right to take the player as long as it pays they clause “, Jorge Brito commented on La Red. And he added: “It’s no coincidence that we put the clause from July 7, because it was only after the second leg of round 16 of the Cup”.

The River president provided more details of the negotiations at the beginning of the year. “When we started negotiations with City they wanted to pay less, and they wanted to remove it. But we worked hard for him to pay the amount of the termination clause and reinforce the player’s contract,” he explained. by Brito.

Then, River will start burning Álvarez. And enjoy the final games. If Marcelo Gallardo’s team reaches the League Cup final and reaches the Libertadores ’round of 16,“ Araña ”has 9 games left. Aside from the nostalgia that has already formed, in Núñez they are already thinking of his replacement.

And the main name is an acquaintance of the house. Gallardo loved Alario, an elite soccer player, who wore his shirt and played. “Pipa” is leaving Bayer Leverkusen but he has not yet determined what he will do in his future. “This week they ask me about Alario every day, but there are no conversations and I don’t talk about names or positions,” Brito said cautiously. But Alario’s return is part of his leadership’s plan. “For us, dismissing all the players at some point is a pillar in football,” the “Millionaire” president said.

And he continued: “Players miss River when they leave. In our model, it’s important to bring back soccer players who want to come to the age of competition and have the desire, but Gallardo understands when we want to take care of those. club assets. ” Then, he added: “What Marcelo (Gallardo) wanted was not that they had come to retire to the River but that they had fully come and knew that they had come to contend for a position”. Although, he also clarified: “They have to make an effort and give financially because there is no way to compete with the salaries of European clubs.”

Aside from public statements and precautions, sources close to the leadership confirmed to Clarín that the plan to return Alario was underway. And for Luke it can be a significant challenge. Not only to try to return to the National Team, but also to regain his soccer level and the title he lost as the top scorer of the Gallardo cycle since he was passed by Rafael Borré (55 goals) and Álvarez (44), as he is now is in third place with 41 points.