For the price of one Jordan Pickford you could have six Dani Alves. At least, going on reports of the Brazilian’s impending move to Manchester City, you could. Of course, a team consisting of six full-backs probably wouldn’t be the most balanced outfit, but such a comparison illustrates the value being eked out from the former Barcelona stalwart by Pep Guardiola.
Indeed, it will be the shrewdest deal of the transfer window so far, assuming it goes through. Having released Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta at the end of the season, City are in desperate need of some full-backs, and in Alves they have found one of the very best for a cut price.
Of course, Alves is no longer at the peak of his powers. He was once a true great of the game, setting a precedent for the modern full-back during his team at Barcelona. It was in Catalonia that the Brazilian became a legend, winning everything there was to win with Guardiola, who considered him one of the cornerstones of his side.
It’s little wonder then that Guardiola has turned to Alves again. At Man City, things haven’t been as easy as had been expected for the new man in charge. It cannot be denied that Guardiola’s first season in the Premier League was somewhat of a disappointment, finishing the campaign empty handed and in third place. Perhaps it’s only now that the sheer scale of the task at hand is dawning on Guardiola.
But by making a move for Alves the Man City boss has opened himself up for derision in some quarters. Having just turned 34, the Brazilian isn’t exactly a long term solution, but a short term fix. Guardiola was appointed on the idea that he would establish the Etihad Stadium outfit as a true European footballing power, and the signing of Alves doesn’t fit into that idea.
Signings like Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva have been made with a firm focus on the future and the long-term vision of the club. Guardiola wants to impose not just a certain style of play and philosophy on Man City, but a certain profile on the squad as well. Alves doesn’t fit the mould of that profile.
However, Guardiola needs short term fixes just as much as long term solutions. Without the former he won’t have the time to implement the latter. He must enjoy a much better season this season than last, and so he needs players who can deliver for him immediately. Alves is someone who can do that, having just helped Juventus win the Scudetto and reach the Champions League final.
There’s a balance that must be struck. Man City find themselves at a juncture as they attempt to combine the short term with the long term, and that makes this summer transfer window all the more difficult for Guardiola. There's a reported budget of around £300 million to be spent at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, and that budget must be spent wisely.
The £5 million spent on Alves could be the wisest money Man City spend this summer. The Brazilian remains one of the best at what he does, and with so many Premier League rivals in the market for full-backs this summer Guardiola is stealing a match on the rest by partnering with such a reliable ally.
Guardiola’s reputation has come under scrutiny of late following on from his fairly dismal debut season in England. The next 12 months will determine a lot for the Catalan, making this summer arguably the most important of his career. Alves isn’t someone for the long term, or even the medium term, but that shouldn’t matter much to City and Guardiola.
