Pep Guardiola lavished praise on Julian Alvarez after the forward's brace inspired Manchester City's 3-1 Champions League victory over Crvena zvezda.

City trailed their Serbian visitors at half-time but Alvarez equalised after two minutes of the second half and had his side ahead on the hour.

And Guardiola revealed how grateful he was to his bosses for bringing the 23-year-old to the club.

The City boss said: "What a signing the club has done.

"He is so young and he has everything. Fighting, goals, assists and he is an incredible, lovely guy.

"Playing behind Erling he is an incredible threat. His first goal was really good, his movement was so quick. 

"Last season we had Kevin [De Bruyne] and Ilkay Gundogan in that position and they were incredible. Sometimes it was difficult to find the space but I never had a doubt."

Guardiola was also delighted with star man Rodri, claiming that he is the best midfielder in the world.

The Spaniard scored City's third to complete the 3-1 win and his manager did not hold back in his adulation.

He said: "Right now, Rodri is the best. He is an extraordinary holding midfielder.

"We were lucky, again, that the club signed this type of player. When he arrived he was not this type of player but now he has played a huge amount of games and he is one of the captains of the team.

"Offensively, defensively, the composure, the way he reads the spaces, close to the box he is so dangerous. He is playing really, really well."

Guardiola also revealed that Bernardo Silva is likely to miss City's next few games after being subbed off just before half-time.

The Portuguese international joins John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish on the sidelines.