by @FM_Stag
We put out a call to hear some of your favourite players from this year’s version of Football Manager. @FM_Stag duly answered 👇👇.
People could say that I bought Claudio Álvarez for Boca Juniors from domestic rivals Newell’s Old Boys for £4.5million on 8 December 2020, aged 17.
Others could say that in my current game era (I am in February 2026), 22-year old Claudio Álvarez is the greatest footballer on the planet.
The problem with these two statements is that you are trying to normalise Claudio Álvarez, like he is just a footballer, just a man.
When Paul (aka MaddFM) asked me to write about my favourite player from FM20, my mind shot in a few directions. Could it be José Luis Garavano (dubbed #JLG9 by ‘the internet’) from my European Journeyman adventure? He was the incredible player who followed me from Lille to Bayern Munich and on to UEFA Champions League success? I should’ve said spoiler alert ahead of that. I also considered Rolando Blackburn, the Panama international currently smashing in the goals for my Bolivian powerhouses The Strongest in The Lever of La Paz.
It could only really have been Álvarez, however.
In short, the intentions of my Boca save is to propel my fictional manager to the top of the global Hall of Fame. Get out of the way Pep, Zizou, José and Sir Alex, I’m coming through.
Signing Álvarez from a domestic rival seemed a no-brainer. In a league like the Argentinian Superliga, if you are one of the big boys; it pays to take a leaf out of Bayern Munich’s book, and buy the best players from your rivals. Strengthen your own side with primarily home-grown players, while weakening the competition.
When I signed Claudio, it was admittedly a bit of a risk. Unfortunately I don’t have an original screenshot, as I had no idea just how incredibly he would develop, but he’s definitely gone far beyond my initial expectations.
Álvarez is currently gunning for Martin Palermo’s Boca Juniors record of having scored 190 league goals for the Xeneizes. The legendary Palermo played for Boca for some 11 years. His second spell ending when he was almost 38 years of age. I am confident Álvarez is going to pass his record before his 25th birthday.
Let’s have a look at his biography so far.
27 trophies lifted and 25 awards achieved by 22 years of age. Have a look at those last two paragraphs, Claudio Álvarez is an absolute once-in-a-generation phenom.
139 league goals in 159 league games. 217 goals in 254 appearances across all competitions. And this is only the beginning.
Here is where I’d normally break down his attributes. His major strengths and potentially his weaknesses. It’s hard though when leadership and long throws are the only glaring gaps in his skillset.
Tactically, Álvarez sits on the right side of a three man attack, partnering a Poacher (usually the Mexican Emmanuel Sol) with the incredible Matías Palacios (the San Lorenzo wonderkid) taking up the responsibility of the Juan Román Riquelme number 10 shirt and role, just behind the front two.
My tactical strategy involves patient short passing but with the odd defence-unlocking quick through ball on the counter. If Álvarez is either the provider (this season he has 23 assists on top of his 44 goals in 44 games because of course he does) or on the end of these moves, he has the ability to be the difference maker. He regularly is.
Diego Maradona once famously said that Lionel Messi is “the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football.” He meant at the very, very top.
This time round, I wonder what Lionel Messi would say about heir apparent Claudio Álvarez? Luckily for the Boca Juniors legend, he can just turn round in training and ask him!
“La Bombonera no tiembla, late.”
This translates as saying that the famous Boca Juniors stadium does not tremble, it beats. Like the hearts of la doce, passionately supporting their team. Those hearts certainly skip a beat when Claudio Álvarez steps onto the pitch.
Thanks for reading.
If you enjoyed this then you can check out FMStag’s excellent content via his blog - whether it’s classic CM stories, FM Guides & Tips or his adventures around South America, you won’t be disappointed.
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