Manchester City have known they wanted to sign Erling Haaland for more than a year, and having pursued Harry Kane over the last transfer window there would be no repeat. They went all out against Real Madrid and Barcelona to land the Norwegian No.9, and they got their man.
The signing of Julian Alvarez back in January at first appeared an interesting aside. Here was a striker earning rave reviews in Argentina with River Plate who had been scouted by City's excellent recruitment team in South America, and the club saw an opportunity and took it.
Those close to Alvarez and River Plate were keen to point out that the deal was to take him to Manchester rather than any other City Football Group club despite the deal bearing some of the hallmarks of those players that have never kicked a football at the Etihad. For the Blues, it felt like an opportunity that they could take advantage of when it suited them.
