A summer of uncertainty for Argentina international, Ricky Álvarez appears to be drawing to a close after it emerged the 27-year-old is travelling to Portugal to complete a switch to Porto as a free-agent. Sunderland, where he spent last season on loan and Inter Milan, the parent club, both made it clear they saw no future with the former Vélez midfielder and so Álvarez required the authority of FIFA to enable him to move as a free-agent despite having a year left on his deal with Internazionale. San Lorenzo had been hopeful of adding Álvarez but it now appears that Portuguese giants, Porto will offer a way out.

Last summer Ricky Álvarez was in Brazil alongside Lionel Messi and the rest of the Argentina squad for the World Cup. One year on and the 27-year-old is grateful to FIFA and to Porto for providing a route to further his career in Europe after Sunderland and Inter Milan desperately tried to ensure that they were not lumbered with him.

In his early twenties, Ricky Álvarez lit up the Primera and helped Vélez to Clausura titles in 2009 and 2011 and with purported interest from Arsenal it was Inter Milan that won the race for this signature in a deal worth €12.8 million. After three seasons at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Álvarez was included in Alejandro Sabella’s 2014 World Cup squad with his career progression following a controlled upward curve.

However, at the end of the subsequent transfer window, Inter decided that Álvarez was surplus to requirements and was sent out to Sunderland on a season-long loan deal. This stipulated that if Sunderland remained in the Premier League they would make the transfer permanent for an agreed fee of €10.5 million. Dick Advocaat did indeed steer Sunderland to safety but it would be difficult to make much of an argument to say that Álvarez played much part. Less than twenty appearances in all competitions, only five starts and the last of those coming in March give a clear indication of how little an impact Álvarez made on wearside.

Understandably, Sunderland have since been reluctant to pay the agreed figure after claiming that he spent most of the season on the treatment table rather than the pitch. Inter, however, remained resolute in their stance – the deal was agreed and with a year left on Álvarez’s current deal this is the only way they will recoup anything like that amount of money.

With the two clubs at an impasse, FIFA were required to decide on the outcome and thankfully for Álvarez and his agent, the contract with Inter seems to have been rescinded and as a free-agent he can now sign for Porto.

Porto have until September 22nd to complete the deal but reports suggest that this could be imminent and Álvarez may soon be linking up with fellow Argentine, Dani Osvaldo.