Hidden Man City team proving to be priceless in transfer market

Txiki Begiristain loves to watch football.

Manchester City's outgoing sporting director will do his work against the backdrop of Pep Guardiola and his players training, or a youth team match. As much as he loves to see top talent, he loves to discover it too and has built a reputation over the past two decades at Barcelona and then City as one of the best in the business.

He can't be everywhere though, which is why City's recruitment team spreads all over the world. And because South America is seen as such a hotbed of young talent, that part of City's team is headed up by a man Begiristain knows closely.

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Joan Patsy is not a name known to many City fans but he has been looking after this crucial element of City's business for more than a decade. Having previously worked with Johan Cruyff when Guardiola's idol was in charge of Barcelona, Patsy is one of the most important people at the club who wouldn't be easily recognisable at a game.

City have a vast network in South America including City Football Group sister clubs that has allowed them to some of the best young talent on the continent for the past decade, but chief among the talents has been Patsy's ability to spot an opportunity for the Blues. Julian Alvarez, Maximo Perrone and Claudio Echeverri are among the recent finds that have helped to give City an advantage.

That contribution has certainly been recognised within City. As Guardiola posed with his brother with the Champions League trophy in Istanbul last year, next to Begiristain in the photo is Patsy.

Begiristain's departure may inevitably raise