In a saga that could have been scripted for a Hollywood thriller, Manchester City finally sealed the deal for Argentine forward Alejandro Fernández, thanks to a last‑minute intervention by sporting director Juan Maresca. After a weekend of heated press conferences, legal wranglings and a record‑breaking €85 million fee, the deadline loomed like a ticking bomb. City’s hierarchy, once at loggerheads over the player’s wage demands, rallied behind Maresca’s relentless push, turning acrimony into triumph. The signing not only shatters the club’s previous transfer record but also signals Pep Guardiola’s intent to refresh his attacking arsenal ahead of the new campaign.