Arsenal lose Alvarez to Inter

Argentine club Velez Sarsfield have confirmed Arsenal target Ricky Alvarez will be playing for Inter Milan from next season.

The attacking midfielder was strongly linked with a move to the Gunners, but Inter have pipped the north London club for the 23-year-old's services.

Velez Sarsfield have announced that the Serie A outfit are to pay an initial £10.6million for 90% of the player's economical rights before an additional £896,000 is due after he makes 80 first-team appearances.

It is believed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger may have balked at Sarsfield's asking price for a youngster yet to show his worth in the European top flight.

A statement on the Argentine club's website read: "Velez Sarsfield Athletic Club announces that it has reached an agreement with the authorities of FC Inter Milan for the transfer of our player Ricardo Alvarez."

New Inter boss Gian Piero Gasperini alluded to the possibility of Alvarez' San Siro arrival to the press on Tuesday, saying: "If he came to Inter, he'd be an important reinforcement."

Arsenal Lose out on Ricky Alvarez?

According to press reports Inter Milan have trumped Arsenal in the battle for Argentine midfielder Ricky Alvarez with an £11million bid and a lucrative five-year contract.And the big-money swoop throws a major spanner in the works as Cesc Fabregas looks to finally complete his return to Barcelona.Alvarez is the man Arsene Wenger wants to replace playmaker Fabregas but afterbelieving they had sealed a deal for the 23-year-old Velez Sarsfield star, the Gunners now face opposition from Inter.Inter directors met Alvarez, his agent and Velez president Fernando Raffaini this week and the South American club have indicated they will accept the Italians’ offer.
They have pencilled in a medical for Alvarez in Milan but the player’s representative Marcelo Simonian is hoping Arsenal will increase their £10m bid.And they also hope Wenger will can match Inter’s offer of £100,000 a week.
An Inter source said: “We are very close to completing the deal but now the decision lies with the player.”

Palermo claim Alvarez signs for Arsenal

Ricardo Alvarez has signed for Arsenal, according to the Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini.Alvarez has been a member of the Velez squad since 2008, although a cruciate ligament injury suffered in the same year stalled his breakthrough into the first team. The 6'2" Argentine, who also holds an Italian passport, is known for his versatility, and can play across the midfield, as well as a second striker.The 23-year-old Argentina midfielder has been a long-term target for the Italian side, but according to Zamparini, any chance of enticing him to Serie A is now over.Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss in Italy, he said: "We were interested in Alvarez, we were very close to him in January.
"We lost him due to our mistake and I know that he has already signed for Arsenal."
If that's the case, the Velez Sarsfield player becomes Arsene Wenger's first signing of the summer.

Arsenal set to sign Velez Sarsfield's Ricky Alvarez

Velez Sarsfield attacking midfielder Ricky Alvarez is on the verge of a move to Arsenal, according to reports in Argentina.Reports from Argentina claim that the 23-year-old midfielder has signed a pre-contract deal with Arsene Wenger's side, and will move across the Atlantic after the Clausura season


FoxSports reports the 23-year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement with Arsene Wenger's side, and will move to London when his current deal expires at the end of the Clausura season.

Alvarez has been a member of the Velez squad since 2008, although a cruciate ligament injury suffered in the same year stalled his breakthrough into the first team.

The 6'2" Argentine, who also holds an Italian passport, is known for his versatility, and can play across the midfield, as well as a second striker.