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Sunderland will argue Ricky Alvarez is not fit to complete a £9m move this summer – and may have to put their case to Fifa.

The 27-year-old is at the centre of a dispute between the Black Cats and Inter Milan, neither of whom want the Argentina international back after a disappointing first season in English football.

With the sides at loggerheads, the world’s governing body could be asked to arbitrate.

Although Sunderland were always coy about confirming as much, when Alvarez joined on a season-long loan from Inter Milan it was on the understanding that the arrangement would be made permanent if the Black Cats avoided relegation.

As far as the Italians are concerned, that is still the case. Sunderland, though, are expected to argue Alvarez is not fit to join them after an injury-plagued 2014-15.

Alvarez started only five Premier League matches last season, and did little in them to justify a £9m fee. He failed to score or create a league goal (though he did find the net against Fulham in the FA Cup).

The skilful winger did not play a whole match all season, averaging 31 minutes per appearance.

He suffered throughout with knee trouble, missing two long spells as a result. Football-lineups.com calculate they totalled 122 days.

Alvarez’s last appearance for the Wearsiders came in Gustavo Poyet’s final game as coach. He was substituted at half-time, with his side already trailing 4-0 to Aston Villa.

“He’s very much injured,” Poyet’s replacement Dick Advocaat said of the Argentinian shortly after arriving as interim head coach.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but it’s not positive.

“I don’t think we’ll see him again this season.”

As far as Sunderland are concerned, those last two words can be removed.

Inter, however, are adamant they are owed the money. Although Alvarez made 31 appearances for them in 2013-14 – plus another three for Argentina, including at the World Cup – they have changed coach since and he is not part of Roberto Mancini’s plans.

Under Poyet Sunderland signed five South American footballers, mainly Argentinians although the then-coach was Uruguayan. South Americans traditionally, though not always, struggle to adapt to English football and Alvarez is not alone amongst the Stadium of Light signings in finding it difficult.

Poyet praised reserve goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s impact off the field, but his only appearances in the second half of 2013-14 came in the FA Cup, and at the end of the season he was released for a second time, joining Newell’s Old Boys for regular first-team football.

Ignacio Scocco’s only Premier League football came from the bench and the striker failed to score in eight appearances in all competitions. He joined Ustari at Newell’s for a loss of around £0.7m.

Santiago Vergini has just completed a second loan spell and, complications over his ownership notwithstanding, is expected to sign permanently after 18 months on Wearside.

The versatile Argentina defender lost his place at the end of last season to Uruguayan Sebastian Coates, who until then could have been described as another disappointment.

Coates was on a season-long loan from Liverpool, and is now interesting Leicester City.

Sunderland’s Duncan Watmore was yesterday named the Barclays U21 player of the season after scoring 11 goals in 18 games for the Black Cats’ Under-21s.

Under-21s coach Robbie Stockdale said: “He is a special player he is also a fantastic person; he’s likeable, approachable and the really exciting thing is that he still has some way to go.

“He plays with no fear and he has pace in abundance. There are things to work on and he understands that so hopefully he will kick on next year like a number of our other players.”