Due to the unrelenting schedules players have, it’s rare to get the chance to take them ‘off-site’ to get photographs in different locations.

So when one of our talented photography team – Tom Flathers – pitched a shoot at Manchester’s iconic Heaton Park with Julian Alvarez shortly before the end of the 2023/24 season, our Argentine ace was only too happy to squeeze in some time.

Bigger than Hyde Park in London and only a few acres less than New York’s Central Park (OK, 200 or so acres smaller!), Heaton Park is a source of great pride to Mancunians.

Once the host of horse racing – later relocating to Aintree – Heaton Park has a boating lake, golf course and the historic Heaton Hall.

It has also hosted huge concerts for Oasis, The Stone Roses and has been the home of the Manchester Park Life festival since 2013.

So, what better backdrop to take Julian and get some stunning photography?

Here’s the results

WHAT’S THE STORY? This is a magazine shoot if we ever saw one, Julian…

  BE HERE NOW: A happy Alvarez – no doubt with thoughts of a summer break in mind!

  DEFINITELY, MAYBE: Great shot with the green of Heaton Park as a backdrop

  PARK LIFE: Julian enjoying the scenery – even if the sun refused to show itself…

  ROUND OUR WAY: Alvarez is part-Manc these days…

  MADE OF STONE: The wall that Julian is sat on, of course…

  THE MASTERPLAN: Julian thinks of next season and what might be possible with this City team…

  ALL AROUND THE WORLD: That’s where Julian will have been by next August!