The brothers of a treble and World Cup winner starring for a non-league team in Gorton

It was a season like no other. A World Cup win with his country Argentina in Qatar in December followed up by completing the treble with Manchester City in Istanbul in June.

Yet Blues striker Julian Alvarez also spent much of the last campaign touring the non-league grounds of the north west. For no matter how much things were hotting up for himself on the pitch, he wanted to be there to support his two brothers, who were becoming stars in their own right – albeit in English football's 10th tier.

Rafael and Agustin Alvarez were part of a large entourage of family members who accompanied the 21-year-old when he moved to Manchester in the summer of 2022 following his move from Argentinian giants River Plate. And being football fanatics just like their younger sibling, they set out to try and find themselves a game.

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That's where their unlikely association with Abbey Hey FC began. The Gorton club, who play in the North West Counties League First Division South, had a coach called John Fenton who worked at City's academy and after hearing they were looking to play for a local semi-pro team, made the connection, and they were invited down to training.

"Straight away you could tell they were two really good footballers," the club's chairman Jason Dunford told the Manchester Evening News. "Technically wise, ability-wise. The only problem was the translation and communication. But throughout the world of football, football has its own language.

They fitted in absolutely fantastically. It must have been a bit of an eye-opener for them, to come to Abbey Hey in Gorton from the backstreets of Argentina, it must have been quite daunting with some of the characters we had.

"But they were just like ducks to water. They didn't hold back, they just got stuck in. Four thousand miles away from home, and just embraced everything about the football club, the fans and everything we were trying to do. They are just absolutely drenched in footbal. They eat it, sleep it, dream it...everything."

Left-winger Rafael, nicknamed 'Punchi', and left-back Agustin, who his family called 'Turron' were both signed up and spent the entire season playing for the club, with Agustin winning the club's Player's Player of the Year award.

During the campaign, the Alvarez family, including Julain when City fixtures allowed, were regular visitors, the club's humble Abbey Stadium off Goredale Avenue.

Julian told City's website last year: "After the games we always talk. After I go to see wthem play or they come to see me. We talk and we always give advice to each other, that's what we like doing."

Yet Jason said they were just as humble, bringing packed lunches and flasks of Argentinia Mate tea as they came out in all weathers to cheer them on.

"I think the lads played 36, 37 games and Julian was at 24 or 25 of them. It was only when City were playing, if they'd been playing away and he couldn't get back or if Pep needed him, that he didn't turn up.

"They used to tell us that all three of them used to sit down and discuss on a Monday or a Tuesday after the weekend, how they all played, and try and motivate each other and to try and develop their footballing ability and skills.

"They were an absolute pleasure. You would put the kettle on for them they were that nice. Same with the parents and obviously Julian as well.

"And it was just so nice to see two young lads with a very famous footballing brother, whose brother was at their side, supporting them in front of 100 to 150 people, every single time he could come and watch them.

"They're from a very small town to the south of Buenos Aires. And I remember asking them how long it took for them to get to their nearest professional club and they said 'it used to take us six hours on a bus and mum and dad would take Julian and us. We'd all go together.' That's some commitment.

"But to come to the other side of the world and be as humble as they were, they were just a different class. They didn't ask for anything, no special treatment. They were used to having very little and appreciated everything.

Following the end of the last campaign the brothers spent time out of the country but the club are now celebrating after they returned to Manchester, and signed for Abbey Hey for a second season.

Speaking at their official unveiling before their first training session back with their teammates earlier this month, Jason said their presence had brought a 'buzz' and extra energy to some of the last year's games and that he was hoping for the same this term, with the club now boasting a newly-founded junior section.

"I think for them it was even harder" he said. "People would look at their brother, the season he had last year, I don't think anyone has ever won the treble and the World Cup in the same season before.

"And as he had more and more success on the pitch, the boys we're getting more and more attention on our pitch.

"Which meant actually it was a bit of an honour for some of these lads to take the ball off them, to tackle them, to try and put one on them. It made it a bit more daunting for them to be fair.

"And that's when you really saw how good they both were, but also what good characters they were. As human beings they were just brilliant.

"We're in a good spot in terms of the league table and hopefully this year is Abbey Hey's promotion year. And the addition of those two, on the pitch but also just around the pitch, I think it could be the little bit of a push we need to get us up there.

"It's a blessing for us. Kids would come through the gate just to see him (Julian) and get a picture with him. It definitely put people on the gate. Our average was 120/130 last year.

"Now we're on 200. So we have found 80 to 100 from somewhere and it's not down to that connection as they've been away. I think its new children, new parents coming into the football club and for me personally that is the brighest thing I've got. The future coming through."