Manchester City wanted Julian Alvarez to come straight into Pep Guardiola's squad when they signed him in January, the club's director of football Txiki Begiristain has explained.
City completed the unexpected signing of Alvarez towards the end of the January transfer window when they agreed to pay River Plate £14m for the young striker. However, the terms of the deal stipulated that Alvarez would remain at River on loan for much of 2022, although that date was brought forward to the start of City's pre-season in July.
Speaking in the latest episode of City's Together Again documentary, Begiristain said it was a shame that City could not bring their new signing onboard straight away.
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"All we've heard in terms of compromise, character, good person. All the reports are fantastic," he said in conversation with City's chief operating officer Omar Berrada while assessing the club's January business back in February.
"It's a shame because the reality is that we don't have space for him right now. Because the player looks really good. He's one of those types of players that plays behind the striker. He can play as a nine, you can make him play on both wings, but we're covered here. [It is] such a shame he couldn't come immediately."
While Pep Guardiola did not have an out-and-out striker in his senior squad last season, on the whole the attacking department of the team was stacked with talent that left no room for Alvarez. Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus have of course now both left the club, but back in January their futures were unresolved as City tried to tie them both to new deals.
At that time City had no obvious need to sign a player of Alvarez's profile, but as Berrada explained, the chance to sign such an exciting young talent was too good to pass up on.
"Alvarez was a market opportunity," said Berrada. "It's a player that that will come next summer and help us. He's not impatient to come to Europe. He obviously wants to come, next summer if possible."
Part of the reason for Alvarez's patience in moving to Manchester was that River Plate wanted to keep hold of him for as long as possible, the player himself reluctant to leave his team in the lurch shortly before the start of the Argentine season.
Had City had the space in their squad though, you wouldn't have bet against them convincing both Alvarez and his former club to make the move an immediate one.
Alvarez has enjoyed an encouraging start to the season. Despite not starting any of City's four league games he's looked energetic and exciting when he's come off the bench, and has scored two goals for the Blues, in the Community Shield and in the friendly draw with Barcelona last week.
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