Alvarengue taught Álvarez and Fernández during their early teenage years, but remembered very different characters.
Álvarez was described as calm, respectful and methodical, with a natural strength in mathematics. Having moved from Calchín to continue his football education, he also appeared to need the emotional support provided by teachers and classmates.
Fernández, by contrast, was more restless in the classroom. He could arrive making noise and often had football on his mind - matches, journeys and the possibility of being selected.
Yet both were remembered as positive leaders among their peers. Their personalities differed, but their maturity and ambition were already clear.
The school’s routine was shaped by the demands of academy football. Students could miss extended periods because of tournaments and trips, leaving teachers to prepare work in cooperation with coaches.
Mathematics was even linked to the sport itself, with statistics used to make lessons more relevant to young players. Fernández later completed his studies remotely after reaching River’s first team.
Alvarengue’s most playful prediction was reserved for Fernández: “Ele gostava muito de bater nas coisas. Então, talvez baterista?” In English, she imagined that the midfielder might have become a drummer because of his habit of hitting objects.
The school’s walls also celebrate Gonzalo Montiel, Exequiel Palacios, Germán Pezzella and Guido Rodríguez, alongside Álvarez and Fernández. All passed through River’s educational system before featuring in Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad.
Their stories underline the academy’s broader mission: developing footballers while helping young people cope with distance from home, pressure and uncertainty.
The next generation at River will face the same balancing act. Their future may be decided on the pitch, but the foundations are often laid in the classroom.