As if missing out on Erling Haaland was not bad enough, Manchester United also lost out to Manchester City in the battle for Julian Alvarez.
At the start of 2022, River Plate gave Alvarez’s agent the all clear to secure the striker a move to Europe, and Argentine newspaper Ole claimed Manchester United were in the mix.
Speaking to a press conference earlier this month, former interim boss Ralf Rangnick named Julian Alvarez as one of three forwards he wanted to sign in January, along with Dusan Vlahovic and Luiz Diaz.
Manchester United did not provide any funds for Rangnick to make signings, and Manchester City showed their smarts, by securing a deal for Julian Alvarez and loaning him back to River Plate for the rest of the season.
Alvarez scores six goals in one game
Julian Alvarez may have to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland at City, but he is a fantastic prospect in his own right, as he keeps on demonstrating.
Alvarez scored six goals in one game this week, leading River Plate to an 8-1 win over Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores group stages.
It takes his tally to 15 goals in 2022, where he is warming up ahead of linking up with City this summer.
Manchester United are meanwhile still hunting for a new striker, to play alongside and eventually succeed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Perhaps United will find a better alternative to 22-year-old Argentine international Alvarez, but this was a deal which was do-able, and top strikers are hard to find.
As much as United may hope to put their fingers in their ears and block out the noise, Alvarez is once again showing the noisy neighbours are a clued-up, slick machine off the pitch as well as on it.
This has been Manchester United’s downfall in recent seasons, the club have been so disorganised off the pitch, with Gary Neville this week hitting out at the Glazers for leaving Ed Woodward in charge behind the scenes for so long.
United have a fresh start this summer, but it is going to be a challenge to get anywhere near City, who are adding two top strikers to a title-winning XI.
Failing to land Alvarez could turn out to be a decision Manchester United come to regret.