Form, as they say, is merely temporary. And as he scribed his name into the history books, West Ham United’s long-standing striker target ensured that he will arrive in the Premier League with his place cemented in a pantheon of modern-day greats.
While form is temporary, Yuri Alberto’s class is most certainly permanent.
And presuming that this is indeed the summer in which Corinthians’ Brazil international centre-forward finally lands in English football, he will cross the Atlantic having secured his place in Neu Quimica Arena folklore.
West Ham’s interest in Yuri Alberto was talked up by the striker’s agent a few weeks ago. Alongside Premier League rivals Wolves, The Hammers are one of a number of clubs to have made their interest known.
In fact, you can trace West Ham United’s interest back to the summer of 2021. Corinthians rejected a £15 million bid from the London Stadium side two years after the links first emerged. According to The Times, Alberto is once again now headlining a lengthy striker shortlist.
And what a difference one afternoon makes.
West Ham United target Yuri Alberto breaks Corinthians record
Last week, Yuri Alberto was a striker stuck in an eight-game barren run.
Now, the former Internacional and Zenit St Petersburg man has always been a striker prone to profligate spells. While claiming Brazil’s Golden Boot last term, 11 of Alberto’s 15 strikes came in his final nine matches.
And true to form, while smashing a 69-minute hat-trick past former employers Internacional during Saturday’s 4-2 win, Alberto scored more goals in just over an hour than across his previous six Brazilian Serie A matches combined.
Furthermore, with 68 in 178 games, Yuri Alberto now tops the tree for the most goals scored by a Corinthians player since the turn of the Century.
That, though, is not the only summit upon which the 24-year-old sits atop.
Alberto outscores Real Madrid and Barcelona superstars
Since the beginning of 2024, Yuri Alberto has found the target 42 times. That is more than any other Brazilian player in the top 20 leagues across world football.
His closest challengers – Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s ex-Leeds superstar Raphinha – are situated narrowly behind on 39 and 38 respectively.
“I haven’t scored a hat-trick since 2022! I really like that. It’s a very important milestone,” beams Alberto, following up two clinical left-footed finishes with a brave back-post header to show Internacional just how far he has come at league rivals Corinthians.
“I want to thank the fans and thank the team for their dedication today. We deserve it so much. This victory will be very important for the rest of the championship.”
TBR Football report that Corinthians value Yuri Alberto at a fee in the region of £15 million.
A punt worth taking, surely, for a West Ham side crying out for a younger, fitter, long-term number nine.
Yuri Alberto may not be the most ruthlessly consistent. But, as old employers Internacional found out the hard way, there are some days when he is verging on the unstoppable.
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