Manchester City signed Julian Alvarez with Barça's Ferran Torres money

Manchester City signed Julián Alvárez -- the Argentina forward who shone in the semifinals of the World Cup in Qatar against Croatia -- in January this year for €20 million.

Alvárez won the penalty that Leo Messi netted, he scored the second goal with an individual effort and the third after a great Messi run.

Three goal involvements which took a career carved out at River Plate to the next level. It was his goal with River that captivated Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City scouts in South America.

Guardiola saw the operation clearly as he knew of Barcelona's interest in Ferran Torres, whom he had signed 18 mon this previouslt for €25 million. So City decided to sell Ferran Torres to Barcelona for €55 million to spend part of that income on signing Alvárez.

On Jan. 31, 2022, the day he turned 22, Álvarez signed for Man City, although he did not move immediately, staying for six months at River Plate to end the season in Argentina before beginning the 22/23 season with Guardiola's City.

With this signing tied up, City opened the door for Ferran Torres to Barcelona, who paid double what City had paid to Valencia for him.

The signing of Ferran not only helped City to sign Alvárez, but they also used the proceeds from the sale of Ferran, in part, to secure the services of Erling Haaland, paying €60 million for the Borussia Dortmund striker, commissions aside.

It certainly wasn't a bad deal for City.