Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been impressed with the way Julian Alvarez has adapted to life at the Etihad Stadium.
On his first league start on Wednesday evening, Alvarez looked like a seasoned veteran as he bagged a brilliant brace against Nottingham Forest to cap off an incredible all-round showing.
For his first strike, the 22-year-old got on the end of Riyad Mahrez's through ball and struck a low-driven shot past Dean Henderson.
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The River Plate academy graduate showcased his finisher prowess in his second by dispatching a half-volley with his weak foot onto the crossbar and into the roof of the net.
Aside from his goals, Alvarez excelled alongside hat-trick hero Erling Haaland, who took his tally to nine goals for the season after just five games into the Premier League season.
Alvarez's link-up play, pressing and ability to find space were on the money as he looked the part against Steve Cooper’s men.
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Speaking prior to City's 6-0 rout of Nottingham Forest in midweek, Pep Guardiola discussed how the club have helped Julian Alvarez settle into his new surroundings.
“When you buy a player from another country, you never know how he is going to adapt," the Catalan said, as quoted by the Independent.
"What you have to do is try to help him, not just with the structure on the pitch, off the pitch too, to make him settle as quick as possible to make him feel comfortable."
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Manchester City have made a strong start to their title defence with four wins in five ahead of a tricky clash away at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Guardiola added: "This group of players is extraordinary, so that’s why it’s not easy. When the guy is humble and has the desire and the wish to succeed, in the end it will happen.
"The players who come here, the quality is so good, I don’t have doubts about that.”
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The 51-year-old went on heap praise on Alvarez, whose summer switch to the Etihad Stadium was confirmed on the final day of the January transfer window.
“It depends a lot of the time on the mentality and Julian (Alvarez) from day one, we saw that he didn’t want to miss the opportunity, I want to do it well and that is so important," Guardiola said.
“He (Alvarez) is so young, had incredible success in one of the most important teams around the world in River Plate and if he is able to do it there with this personality, he can adapt wherever and I feel that he is going to help us in many ways.”
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Pep Guardiola, Julian Alvarez, River Plate, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest
Srinivas Sadhanand