CF Montreal have grabbed Fernando Álvarez, a coveted young defender from Mexican club Pachuca. The team announced the transfer on Friday.
The 19-year-old Colombian, who can also represent the United States and Mexico on the international scene, also initialed a three-year contract in Montreal until 2025 with two option years in 2026 and 2027.
Álvarez essentially evolved with the reserve team of Pachuca in the Mexican third division. However, he also played a meeting with the first team in Liga MX in October 2021.
“We are very happy to welcome Fernando among us,” said CF Montreal Vice President and Chief Sports Officer Olivier Renard in a statement. “He is a player who stood out this summer during the U20 World Cup in Argentina as one of the best central defenders in the tournament. In addition to the advantage of his American citizenship, he has a good physique with a good quality of recovery. »
The 6’1″ defender is therefore part of the long line of sporting projects at the club, which will want to see him progress and mature and then sell him for a profit.
If there is one thing that history has taught us with Olivier Renard, it is that he likes to prepare the ground before a start. He demonstrated that earlier this season by acquiring George Campbell and Gabriele Corbo just weeks before sending Kamal Miller to Inter Miami.
So, now Renard will again look for reinforcement in central defense. A well-stocked position with Campbell, Corbo, Joel Waterman, Rudy Camacho, Róbert Thorkelsson and Ousman Jabang.
The arrival of Álvarez could well spell the end for one of these defenders. It could also serve as a cushion if ever Camacho, who will be without a contract at the end of the campaign, does not continue his career in Montreal. To this effect, Apple TV analyst Vincent Destouches mentioned that CF Montreal has received offers from Toronto and Columbus for the 32-year-old Frenchman.
If Álvarez ever manages to do well, it could finally allow Hernán Losada to employ a southpaw to the left of his central hinge. It was Corbo who filled the role in brilliant fashion this season, but Álvarez would add depth to this key position. Besides Thorkelsson, all the other defenders are right-handed and have struggled in that position.
However, despite his interesting track record, caution will be required with Fernando Álvarez. Since taking office, Renard has experienced many failures with his recruits arriving from outside the circuit. While Luis Binks was a success, Thorkelsson, Matko Miljevic, Joaquin Torres, Ahmed Hamdi, Björn Johnsen, Mustafa Kizza and Emanuel Maciel were all projects that never worked out. It should also be remembered that Álvarez is still very young.
Time will tell if the amount paid for this promising young Colombian defender will prove CF Montreal right.