He was your SempreInter.com Man of the Match against Juventus and for the majority of preseason he’s been one of the Nerazzurri’s better performers. In this editorial I’ve decided to dispel a few myths surrounding the curious case of Ricardo ‘Marvilla’ Alvarez.
To say that the mercurial Argentinian divides opinion could possibly be one of the biggest understatements ever made. The reported transfer fee of €11.5 million fuelled expectations from the media and fans alike. The result? Immediate pressure for an inexperienced 23 year old to perform from the very moment he stepped onto the pitch. Inter apparently fought off strong competition from a variety of Europe’s top clubs to claim his signature. This only enhanced the perceived abilities of the young South American. YouTube videos were now being dissected by millions of Interisti and in amongst the frenzy you could have been forgiven for thinking Samuel Eto’o had made a sensational return to the club. Looking back, the situation could have been handled with a more sensible outlook.
A number of reports have circulated discussing the actual figure Inter paid out for Alvarez. Having done some research I’ve decided to go with the common consensus which appears to be around the €9.5 million mark. Depending on whom you believe it’s thought around €5.5 million was initially invested with the rest linked to a variety of bonuses. The accusation has often been leveled at Inter that they could have signed Erik Lamela for a similar fee to that of Alvarez. In reality Lamela transferred to Roma for €17 million with an initial payment believed to be in the region of €12 million. In the media it was portrayed as if Inter had the choice between the two, looking at the financial figures alone that is clearly not the case.
Lamela arrived in Italy touted as the ‘jewel of Argentina’; although inexperienced he was seen as a project and someone that Roma could build their attack around. Despite some experts warning otherwise, Inter fans regarded Alvarez at 23 to be someone that could immediately help the team. His age and perceived transfer fee coupled with the hype surrounding Lamela left many feeling bitter when Alvarez struggled to make an impact at Inter. In reality ‘Ricky’ had made just 42 appearances for Velez, compare that to Lamela who despite being four years his junior had already played on 36 occasions for River Plate. After making his debut for Velez in 2008, Alvarez ruptured a cruciate ligament setting his career back and virtually writing off a calendar year of his development. The injuries have unfortunately followed him across to Europe and he suffered another lengthy lay off during preseason last year.
Javier Zanetti had this to say on his compatriots’ situation “If you ask me Ricky hasn’t disappointed anyone, he’s had trouble in finding continuity due to fitness issues. If he had been able to play 10 matches in a row then we would have said something completely different about him”. If you compare Ricky’s playing time to that of young Mateo Kovacic the numbers are even more striking. At 19 the young Croation has already made 97 career appearances, despite being SIX years his senior Alvarez has played in just 19 more games (116). It makes me wonder what people would say if Ricky was performing as he is currently is and was Kovacic’s age? We would be talking about a phenomenal talent, a player with a golden future full of possibilities. My point is this: it really doesn’t take a huge leap of faith to compare Ricky’s age in terms of development to that of a 20 or 21 year old. The injuries, the expectations, the tough adaptation to Italian football and the limited minutes on the pitch have all lead us to this point.
Don’t agree? Well surely nobody can argue that the more Alvarez played last season the better he got. Even in a situation with virtually no attacking players able to support him, the Argentinian often stood out as Inter’s only real threat. In preseason Mazzarri has tried him in a variety of roles, each time Alvarez has looked assured and decisive, most of all he finally looks to be in great physical shape. He’s been able to resist challenges, beat players and even help in defence when required. Will Ricardo Alvarez ever live up to the unfair hype that accompanied him to Europe? Probably not. Can Ricardo Alvarez be a useful player for Inter and Walter Mazzarri over the coming seasons? Absolutely. For Ricky the key will be staying injury free and for that all he really needs is to just ‘Get Lucky’
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Journalist Gabriele Marcotti talking about Sneijder’s replacement: “Ricky “Maravilla” Alvarez? Come on,, be serious”.
Respected football author Jonathon Wilson: “Ricky Alvarez, Inter’s baffling summer signing from Velez Sarsfield”.
Arsenal Fans after Inter’s 3-0 loss at Tottenham
“Didn’t Arsenal want Alvarez? He’s bloody garbage”.
“Dear Arsenal scouts. Suck one lemon, the lot of you! Whoever recommended this Alvarez kid initially, should be axed. Jeeze..”
“I’m glad arsenal didn’t get Ricky Alvarez”.
Javier Zanetti on Alvarez
“He will certainly be one of our main players in the future,”
Ricky on himself
Under Ranieri: “I’ve played well in some matches, and not so well in others. The Italian league is very difficult, and substantially different to the South American one that I was used to”.
During last season ““My desire is to have a career in Europe. When I started, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. This experience strengthens me a lot. My biggest desire is to remain at Inter”.
Ahead of this season: “I’m very focused and I’m determined to have a good training camp. I need it and I wasn’t able to do that last year. I’m doing everything I can to make sure I put in a great season”.
