Manchester United's $20M Target Could Miss 2022 World Cup If He Moves To Europe [Details]

Manchester United's transfer target Julian Alvarez, who plays for River Plate, has been warned against moving to Europe in the upcoming transfer windows.

Former River Plate president Rodolfo D'Onofrio has claimed that Alvarez could miss out on the 2022 World Cup if he leaves the club next year. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place between November and December in Qatar.

"I told Julián at some point that it would be convenient for him to stay in River in 2022. He will have the possibility of going to the World Cup and I believe that because of the capacity and quality, of being a starter. Because it is an explosion of what he is having and every time he is going to be superior. But if he goes to Europe, acclimatization and everything that happens with the players, he is going to miss the World Cup," D'Onofrio told TNT Sports.

The 21-year-old has attracted the attention of nearly every top European club with his consistent performances over the last year or so. Alvarez has already netted 18 goals in 21 competitive matches for River Plate in the 2021-22 season, apart from assisting another seven goals.

Alvarez's contract with River Plate is set to expire in the summer of 2022. Since the Argentinean has not signed an extension yet, he'll be allowed to begin negotiations with foreign clubs from Jan. 1.

River Plate would not want to lose one of their best players for free. Los Millonarios will look to cash in on him in January if Alvarez's contract situation doesn't change in the coming days and the center forward has a release clause of $20 million.

"As a fan, the clause of 20 million dollars is worth not leaving. It means that it is priceless. For River, Julián is priceless. But I also recognize because I understand that a footballer at a certain point, they make such extraordinary offers that it is very difficult to retain them because they pay you the exit clause," D'Onofrio added.

Alvarez, who made his debut for the Argentina national team earlier this year, has so far made five appearances for his country's senior team.

Manchester United have made an offer for the 21-year-old forward ahead of the January transfer window, according to soccer media outlet The Hard Tackle. However, International Business Times could not verify it independently.

The Red Devils' attack is strong with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood. However, with Ronaldo turning 37 in a couple of months, and Cavani and Martial expected to leave during the upcoming transfer window, Manchester United will have room for a new attacker.

Meanwhile, River Plate have also received an offer from Bayern Munich for Alvarez, who is also a target of Serie A clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan, according to Italian publication Calciomercato.com.

Alvarez made his senior debut for River Plate during the 2018-19 season and to date, the Argentinean forward has netted 36 goals and 25 assists in 96 games with the first-team, across all competitions.