Julian Alvarez and the truth behind La Arana’s Real Madrid Academy connection

Despite donning the regal white, Julian Alvarez never officially joined Real Madrid’s academy.

Julian Alvarez and his alleged Real Madrid connection

Julian Alvarez, the beloved “La Arana” of the current world champions, is currently playing for Manchester City. The Argentine forward has made some real impact both at his club and during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for La Albiceleste, where he netted four crucial goals, including two in the semifinal.

For quite some time, one particular photo of a young Julian Alvarez wearing a Real Madrid kit has circulated widely on social media, leading many to speculate about his past connections with the Spanish giants.

Julian Alvarez’s journey in football began in his hometown of Cordoba, Argentina. He started his youth career at Atletico Calchin, a local club where his talent first shone through. It was during this period that an opportunity arose for young Julian to travel to Spain for a trial in Girona. He eventually got a chance to practice with Real Madrid, courtesy of an invitation from Ramon Martinez, who was the sporting director of Real Madrid at the time.

At just 11 years old, Alvarez joined the Madrid youth team for the Peralanda tournament. His performance was impressive; he scored two goals in five matches, catching the eye of the Real Madrid scouts.

The club was eager to offer him a place in their academy. However, due to FIFA regulations introduced in 2011, which prohibited the transfer of players under 16 without their parents, and Real Madrid's own policy against signing foreign players under 13, the deal could not be finalized.

Alvarez’s family, originally from Argentina with his father working at a cereal company and his mother teaching kindergarten, could not relocate to Spain. Consequently, Julian returned to Argentina.

Julian Alvarez Real Madrid youth team jersey
Julian Alvarez (Image via FromTheBend studio)

Back in his homeland, Alvarez attended trials for both Boca Juniors and River Plate. Ultimately, in 2015, he signed with River Plate, where he continued to develop his skills and made his way into the senior team by 2018 under the guidance of Marcelo Gallardo.

In the winter transfer window of the 2021/22 season, Manchester City secured Alvarez's signature amidst reported competition from the likes of FC Barcelona. Alvarez remained on loan at River Plate until the summer of 2022, after which he moved to Manchester. Since joining City, he has showcased his abilities, albeit with limited playing time due to the presence of Erling Haaland. Despite this, Alvarez has proven to be an invaluable asset for Pep Guardiola’s team.

Despite the viral photo of Julian Alvarez in a Real Madrid kit, it is important to clarify that he never officially joined Real Madrid’s academy. His journey ultimately led him to River Plate and then to the pinnacle of English football with Manchester City.

While he plays a supporting role at City, many pundits and fans believe that Alvarez’s talent is too significant for a backup position. He has recently renewed his contract with Manchester City, but speculation continues about his long-term future. Given the high demand for strikers, it will be interesting to see whether Alvarez remains content at City or seeks more playing time elsewhere.


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