52 December 2021 FourFourTwo17
JULIAn ALVAREZ
Age 21 Club River Plate
Nationality Argentine
Position ForwardTHE LOWDOWN Alvarez’s fifth appearance
for River came in the 2018 Copa Libertadores
Final. It wasn’t just any final, either: when he
trotted onto the pitch in extra time of the
second leg, it was against fierce rivals Boca
Juniors at the Bernabeu, after fan violence
forced the decider to be rescheduled abroad.
Alvarez’s boundless energy changed the
game, and Los Millonarios lifted the trophy
following a 3-1 victory. A slow burner since,
Alvarez’s 2021 has been worth the wait, his
fine Primera Division form earning a spot in
Argentina’s triumphant Copa America squad.
His output has been devastating – nine goals
and six assists in only seven matches from
mid-September through October. River put
a €25m release clause in his deal but such
a fee seems low given his gigantic potential.
Trigger fingers at the ready.
DID YOU KNOW? Messi reportedly advised
Barcelona to sign Alvarez last summer, to
no avail. He’s subsequently been linked with
Milan, Inter, Tottenham and, er, Aston Villa.
BEST MOMENT Taking part in Argentina’s
first major triumph since 1993 seemed to
ignite a fire within, as Boca discovered with
horror when Alvarez bagged both goals in
River’s 2-1 Superclasico success in October.19
RYAn GRAVEnBERCH
Age 19 Club Ajax
Nationality Dutch
Position Central midfielderTHE LOWDOWN Clarence Seedorf held one
of the most famous records in Ajax history
as their youngest player. Then Gravenberch
came along and beat it by more than three
months, at 16 years and 130 days. It may
only have been seven minutes against PSV
during the 2018-19 campaign, but his club
showed how highly they rated their midfield
prodigy. Gravenberch, after all, had played
for their under-15s when he was 12. By last
season he’d become a key member of Erik
ten Hag’s red-and-white winning machine
that dominated the Eredivisie. A versatile and
very intelligent teen who’s often compared
to Paul Pogba, he combines physical strength
with exquisite ball control, a delightful range
of passing and attack-minded thinking.
Liverpool were heavily linked last summer,
but Gravenberch wisely decided to stay in
Amsterdam for now to gain more first-team
experience. The big step forward can wait –
inevitable as it is.
THEY SAID... “He’s the example of a modern,
complete midfielder at the top level,” gushed
former Netherlands star Wim Kieft.
BEST MOMENT He doesn’t score too often
(yet), and thus his brilliant winner against
W Feyenoord in January was especially sweet.
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SAnDRO TOnALI
Age 21 Club Milan
Nationality Italian
Position Central midfielderTHE LOWDOWN Comparisons to Italy’s
favourite midfielder were made before Tonali
had even made his debut for Brescia – in the
summer of 2017, Giornale di Brescia reported
on “a guy born in 2000 who moves and looks
like Pirlo”. “With hair like that, it’s impossible
not to notice him,” they noted. The mop-top
certainly helped, but Tonali played in the
same central midfield position and showed
maturity well beyond his age. Tonali doesn’t
like being called ‘the new Pirlo’, however.
A dead ringer for Hollywood actor Adam
Driver, he grew up idolising Gennaro Gattuso,
and sought the famed terrier’s permission to
don the No.8 shirt upon joining his beloved
Milan in 2020. Tonali’s first season at San
Siro was tough, but his qualities eventually
shone. This term he’s looking magnificent as
Milan seek their first Scudetto triumph since
2010-11, displaying fine ball-winning skills
and a cool head.
THEY SAID... “He’s a more complete player
than myself, defensively and offensively,”
said Pirlo himself. “He isn’t my heir because
he plays differently, but he’ll surely become
a great footballer.”
BEST MOMENT Scoring his first goal for the
Rossoneri with a beautiful free-kick against
Cagliari. Just like... no, we won’t.22 FOR
2022