Former Napoli and Fiorentina winger Daniel Bertoni feels that Inter-linked River Plate striker Julian Alvarez is currently the best player in the Argentine league.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, Bertoni spoke highly of the 21-year-old’s quality amid interest from the Nerazzurri and a number of other clubs.

The Nerazzurri have marked Alvarez out as a major target to bolster their attack, with the young Argentine’s form in his domestic league seriously impressing them.

The striker has scored at a rate of nearly a goal per game across the last season with River, and a number of major European clubs have been strongly linked with an interest in signing him from the Argentine giants, although Inter look to be one of his main suitors.

“For me Alvarez is the best player in Argentina at the moment,” he Bertoni said of the 21-year-old, “a great goalscorer.”

“He can use either foot, if I were to compare him to another player I would compare him to Dries Mertens because he has the same attacking style of play,” he went on.

Bertoni predicted that “I think he will stay at River Plate at least until December 2022 to play regularly  and to be ready for the World Cup.”

“But watch out because Julian is not only in the sights of Napoli,” he added, “there are also big European clubs watching him like Real Madrid.”

Bertoni also spoke about the Nerazzurri being favourites in the Scudetto race, stating that “At the beginning I would have said there were several teams with a chance, but now I think Inter are a step ahead of the rest.”