Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace signing this Mexican starlet for £11m would be a huge bargain

Share

Why Roberto Alvarado would be an excellent signing for Crystal Palace

According to claims from Football Insider (h/t Leicestershire Live), Crystal Palace are among a host of European clubs to have been credited with an interest in Mexican starlet Roberto Alvarado, who currently plies his trade with heavyweights Cruz Azul in his homeland.

Premier League rivals Leicester City, as well as the likes of Atalanta, Lyon, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax, have all registered an interest in the 21-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Mexico. (Football Insider h/t Leicestershire Live)

Alvarado started his footballing education and impressed at Mexican second-tier side Celaya before earning a move to the top-flight with Pachuca in 2017.

Roberto Alvarado is widely regarded as one of the best young players in Mexico (Getty Images)

The highly-rated playmaker went on to enjoy a brief stint at fellow top-flight outfit Necaxa before joining Cruz Azul in 2018 and has progressed by leaps and bounds ever since. 

The 21-year-old, who could be available for a fee of around £11million this month, has scored twice and assisted once in 18 appearances so far this season, and his impressive development has attracted interest from across the Atlantic. 

Alvarado previously lacked substantial end product at Pachuca and Necaxa but he has really come of age since his switch to Cruz Azul, racking up an impressive tally of 9 goals and 11 assists in 74 appearances across all competitions.

Essentially a central attacking midfielder who likes to occupy that hole behind the striker, the left-footed ace is also versatile enough to play in a deeper role in the middle of the park while possessing the skill-set to slot into wide attacking roles on either side of the pitch. 

The youngster already boasts of an eye-catching CV for a player of his age, having racked up 18 senior international caps for Mexico and represented his nation at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the nascent CONCACAF Nations League. 

Alvarado has racked up 9 goals and 11 assists in 74 appearances for Cruz Azul (Getty Images)

Currently, Palace find themselves in the top half of the standings, with defensive stability pretty much the hallmark of their impressive first half of the campaign under Roy Hodgson. 

To that end, a new centre-forward to replace the underperforming duo of Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham should be a top priority for Palace, while a new creative midfielder also fits the bill, with the likes of Andros Townsend and Max Meyer failing to provide any inspiration due to injuries and inconsistencies. 

Wilfried Zaha hasn’t been at his best this season but it would be unfair to single him out for Palace’s poor scoring record. Suffice to say, it has been a collective failure so far for the Eagles in the final third and they will surely need to sort out issues relating to lack of creativity sooner rather than later.

Alvarado has already earned 18 senior international caps for Mexico (Getty Images)

Verdict

To put things into perspective, Crystal Palace are crying out for some much-needed creative reinforcements to bolster their attack in January and Roberto Alvarado looks like a fine young player in the right age bracket to come through the door at Selhurst Park as an exciting addition to the squad. 

With Hodgson often preferring a 4-5-1 formation with an overloaded midfield, Alvarado’s versatility to play in the central and wide areas of the pitch could come in handy, whilst his creativity and finesse would certainly be a big asset to a team that has looked bereft of ideas more often than not. 

Taking into account the obvious climatic and cultural differences between North America and Europe, as well as the intense atmosphere in the Premier League, Alvarado would need time to get to grips with the tempo of the English game. 

However, his talent and potential have been there for everybody to see and the Eagles will be hoping that he can possibly pass the test with flying colours.

The Mexican still has a lot of room for development at 21, which is another reason why he would be well worth a significant outlay for Palace in the market. 

More Crystal Palace News

All in all, it is now high time for the Crystal Palace to aim for better heights in the Premier League and winning the race for Roberto Alvarado would definitely be a massive statement of intent. 

Sayan Chatterjee

A Premier League enthusiast and an avid follower of the beautiful game... keen eye for tactical battles and love to discuss the financial aspects of football...other hobbies include reading, listening to music, playing FIFA on PlayStation, traveling, etc. Follow me on Facebook

Recent Posts

The Vital Role of Communication on the Soccer Field: Unlocking Success in Leagues

Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…

24 hours ago

The Brilliance of Paul Scholes: A Midfield Maestro’s Illustrious Career

In the annals of football history, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as…

2 weeks ago

Online games on Football

Are you new to the world of football betting and would you like to take…

3 weeks ago

Using Soccer News to Enhance Your Game Strategy

If you are into sports betting, staying ahead of the game is crucial. One way…

4 weeks ago

Interesting Facts About Football: 40 Questions and Answers

I have prepared some interesting and fun football facts for you, perfect for those who love the  thrill of discovery almost as much as the excitement found at https://www.staycasino.com/. Like the  unpredictable nature of casino games, these facts will surprise and intrigue you with unexpected  twists and turns in the world of football. Here is the complete list of 40 interesting and fun facts  about football.  What are the most interesting facts about football?  Football was invented in Italy, Messi is the highest-paid athlete, and the fastest a player has  been sent off is 0 seconds!  Stay ahead with these facts and impress with your knowledge. This collection contains many  football facts that will surprise you. Tell your friends new facts they don't know.  Interesting Facts About Football  Every football fan should know these facts. You can also surprise your children with what they  don't know!  When was football invented?  Modern football originated from the Florentine game of Calcio Fiorentino, played in the 14th …

4 weeks ago

Real Sociedad vs PSG preview, team news, tickets and prediction

Real Sociedad returns to the midst of Europe's elite clubs in the UEFA Champions League…

1 month ago