 On 3 February 2007, Álvarez played his first league match for "Depor", making his La Liga debut against RCD Mallorca at the age of nearly 27.He had suffered a serious leg injury while still at the service of Sporting, in April 2006, and was eventually loaned to Racing de Santander in December of the following year until the end of the season.After being relatively used in a Cantabria side that achieved a first-ever qualification to the UEFA Cup – netting in a 2–0 away victory over CA Osasuna on 13 January 2008– Álvarez returned to Galicia and Deportivo.